Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab resigned from the government on Friday following an independent investigation into complaints that he bullied colleagues.

Raab's departure means Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has lost three senior ministers in six months over their personal conduct.

It's also a blow to Sunak's efforts in reviving the governing Conservative Party's fortunes and a major embarrassment as he had entered Downing Street in October promising a government of integrity.

Oliver Dowden has been named the new deputy Prime Minister. 

The 48-page report found Raab "acted in a manner which was intimidating, in the sense of going further than was necessary or appropriate in delivering critical feedback." It also highlighted how he had been "insulting, in the sense of making unconstructive critical comments about the quality of work done (whether or not as a matter of substance any criticism was justified)."

Sunak told Raab in a letter: "It is with great sadness that I have accepted your resignation.

"But it is clear that there have been shortcomings in the historic process that have negatively affected everyone involved. We should learn from this how to better handle such matters in future."

Raab's resignation comes just two weeks ahead of English local council elections where Sunak's Conservatives are predicted to fare badly.

It will also do little to improve the public perception of his government following the scandal-ridden tenure of Boris Johnson and the chaotic economic policies that brought down Liz Truss after less than two months.

The month-long investigation into Raab's behavior heard evidence from multiple government officials about complaints of bullying at three different departments. In total, 44 pieces of written evidence were considered and 66 interviews conducted. Raab was interviewed four times.

Raab, who requested the investigation in November following formal complaints about his behavior by government officials, said he felt "duty bound" to accept the outcome of the inquiry but also staunchly defended his conduct.

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He said the report had concluded he had not once sworn, shouted or physically intimidated anyone in four and a half years, and had dismissed all but two of the claims against him.

Raab said making the threshold for bullying so low "set a dangerous precedent for the conduct of good government." He added it would have a "chilling effect on those driving change on behalf of your government - and ultimately the British people."

Another of Sunak's senior ministers, Gavin Williamson, was forced to resign in November after bullying allegations, and the prime minister sacked Conservative Party chair Nadhim Zahawi in January after he was found to have broken the ministerial code over his openness about his tax affairs.

Sunak is facing his own investigation by parliament's standards watchdog into his behavior over whether he properly declared his wife's shareholding in a childcare company which stands to benefit from new government policy.

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