Profile: Dominic Raab – BBC Information

The UK authorities says Prime Minister Boris Johnson is “nonetheless very a lot in cost”, after he was admitted to hospital with “persistent” coronavirus signs. However Overseas Secretary Dominic Raab is chairing conferences in his absence. So who’s he?

Lower than three years in the past, Dominic Raab wasn’t even within the authorities.

However now, as international secretary and first secretary of state, he’s the de-facto second-in-command to Mr Johnson.

Meaning he might take over operating the federal government for some time if the prime minister sees his well being worsen.

It is a possibility Mr Raab, a 46-year-old former lawyer, would relish, beneath regular circumstances.

The staunch Brexiteer ran for the Conservative Get together management final 12 months however he was knocked out within the second spherical of voting by MPs.

Previous to that he had run-ins with Mr Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa Could, quitting her cupboard after simply over 4 months as Brexit secretary.

The generally outspoken Mr Raab has had a unstable time – going out and in of favour – since turning into Conservative MP for Esher and Walton, Surrey, in 2010.

Who’s Dominic Raab?

Date of delivery: 25 February 1974 (age 46)

Job: Overseas secretary, Conservative MP for Esher and Walton

Schooling: Dr Challoner’s Grammar Faculty, Amersham, Oxford and Cambridge universities

Household: Married to Erika Ray, a Brazilian advertising government. Two sons

Earlier than politics: Overseas workplace lawyer. He was the lead on a group specializing in bringing warfare criminals to justice at The Hague

A married father of two, Mr Raab was born in 1974, the son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938.

He was was introduced up in Buckinghamshire and attended Dr Challoner’s Grammar Faculty in Amersham, earlier than learning legislation at Oxford College and switching to Cambridge for his grasp’s.

He labored as a lawyer within the business sector and the Overseas Workplace earlier than coming into politics in 2006 as an aide to Brexit-supporting Conservative MP David Davis, after which Stay-backing Dominic Grieve.

First elected to Parliament in 2010, the next 12 months Mr Raab angered the then residence secretary, Theresa Could, by describing some feminists as “obnoxious bigots” in a web-based article additionally claiming males have been getting “a uncooked deal”.

Mrs Could accused him of fuelling “gender warfare”.

Mr Raab remained on the again benches for 5 years after turning into an MP.

However the karate black-belt grew to become a junior justice minister following David Cameron’s common election victory in 2015.

He performed a outstanding position within the profitable Depart marketing campaign within the 2016 EU referendum, however was sacked by Mrs Could when she took over as prime minister.

Cupboard position

In 2017, Mr Raab was branded “offensive” by then Liberal Democrat chief Tim Farron after saying “the standard consumer of a meals financial institution shouldn’t be somebody that is languishing in poverty; it is somebody who has a money circulation downside”.

However in June that 12 months he returned to authorities, as a justice minister, this time middle-ranking reasonably than junior.

In Mrs Could’s January 2018 reshuffle he grew to become housing minister – one of many highest-profile non-cabinet roles in authorities.

And in July that 12 months, when Mr Davis stop, the prime minister promoted Mr Raab to Brexit secretary, a cupboard put up.

But his improved relationship with Mrs Could didn’t final lengthy. In November 2018, he stop, criticising her place on Brexit.

He argued that he couldn’t “in good conscience” assist the “backstop” association designed to keep away from a tough border between the Irish Republic and Northern Eire.

As an influential Brexiteer, his feedback have been seen as important in growing opposition to Mrs Could’s withdrawal settlement with the EU, which MPs repeatedly rejected.

After Mrs Could introduced she was standing down final 12 months, Mr Raab entered the competition to change into Conservative chief, and prime minister.

In a crowded subject, he did not get the 33 MPs’ votes he wanted to progress to the third spherical. Fellow Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove outlasted him.

Mark Francois, some of the strongly pro-Brexit of Tory MPs, mentioned: “Whoever wins, and I hope it is Boris, I hope they discover a good place for Dom of their cupboard, as a result of I believe he deserves it.”

Mr Johnson, to whom Mr Raab gave his assist after his elimination from the the race, did simply that. On 24 July final 12 months he grew to become international secretary and first secretary of sate – successfully deputy prime minister.

The brand new job gave him a world profile surpassed solely by Mr Johnson’s, when it comes to the UK authorities.

However he solely narrowly managed to carry on to Esher and Walton finally December’s common election, seeing off a powerful Liberal Democrat challenged by 2,743 votes.

The general Conservative landslide, nevertheless, on a promise to “get Brexit completed”, meant he noticed his dream of leaving the EU come true on 31 January this 12 months.

Since then coronavirus has taken over from Brexit because the UK authorities’s primary precedence, though powerful negotiations on a commerce cope with Brussels are persevering with, by way of video hyperlink.

It was reported not too long ago that Mr Raab, in addition to being first secretary of state, had been chosen as “designated survivor” – the one that takes over the operating of the nation if Mr Johnson is struck down, reaffirming his standing.

The federal government says the prime minister hopes to return to Downing Avenue “as quickly as attainable”.

However the former head of the civil service, Lord Kerslake, argues it might be “smart” for Mr Johnson to “step again” if he isn’t nicely sufficient to hold out his position for now.

If this occurs, Mr Raab will likely be tasked with dealing with probably the best disaster going through the UK since World Struggle Two.

Not less than for a couple of days.