ANDREW Mitchell says Dominic Raab should be allowed to stay in his post until allegations he bullied staff are fully investigated.
Asked if the Deputy Prime Minister should be moved, the International Development Minister, told GB News: “No, there’s a process around these allegations that have been made about Dominic and that process should be followed.
“We live in a country which believes in a system of fairness and justice, and that’s what has been set up and I don’t think it should be pre-empted in any way.”
Quizzed on speculation that he could be appointed chairman of the Conservative Party in the Cabinet reshuffle today, he said: “This is way above my pay grade and they are matters for the Prime Minister, but I’m very happy indeed doing a job which I’ve done before and loved very much, which is the international development job.
“I’m going to do my best, particularly today, to see that Britain puts its shoulder to the wheel and that we save as many lives as we can, those poor people who are caught up in this catastrophe in Syria and Turkey.”
Meanwhile Mr Mitchell said a British rescue team has been delayed but will today arrive in Turkey to help the earthquake rescue effort.
He told GB News: “We reached out to the Turkish government to find out what we could do and as a result of those discussions, which were carefully co-ordinated across the international sector, Britain is sending 76 people who specialise in getting people out of the rubble and four sniffer dogs, and also an emergency response team to see what more widely we can do to help
“The critical thing in these circumstances is the first 72 hours, these significant British assets are waiting to leave Birmingham, they were ready to leave last night has to be coordinated with Turkish authorities.
“This British expertise will be helping what is a huge international effort to save lives.”
In an interview during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, he said their departure had been delayed.
“It’s been coordinated very professionally by the Turkish authorities. They will be leaving imminently.
“And of course, they will be landing in daylight. And that is the time when they can be most effective.”
He added: “I was there a few years ago as part of the Syria emergency and of course, it’s a place that is very densely populated.
An earthquake of this scale, which hasn’t been seen for nearly a century, is absolutely appalling in its outcome and effect and that’s why the Turkish authorities are carefully co-ordinating the relief.
“One of the things we learned from the Haiti earthquake over ten years ago now was the importance of co-ordination and everyone not just rushing in.
“The British support, which is very specialist, and very technically strong, it will land in daylight today, I hope, later this morning, and it will immediately hit the ground running.
“ I hope that they will be able to save lives because as I say, these first 72 hours are when it really cuts.”
