Sunak under pressure from frustrated Tory MPs over Raab allegations

Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure to explain what he knew and when about the Dominic Raab bullying allegations before he appointed him deputy prime minister.

The prime minister has refused to suspend Mr Raab pending the outcome of an investigation into complaints from as many as 24 civil servants.

But Conservative MPs have called for the inquiry to be fast-tracked, saying it was in everyones interest for it to be completed quickly.

The demands came as:

- No 10 refused to deny Mr Sunak had been aware of informal complaints about Mr Raabs behaviour before he placed him in the cabinet.

- Tory MPs warned of growing frustration over the rising number of allegations against him and warned he cannot survive if found guilty.

- There were calls for the justice secretary to be suspended pending the outcome of the probe.

- A senior Tory MP risked inflaming the row by saying civil servants who cant stand the heat should get out of the kitchen.

Downing Street repeatedly refused to say whether Mr Sunak knew of any informal complaints about the deputy prime ministers behaviour before he put him in the cabinet.