Dominic Raab
Encyclopedia
Dominic Rennie Raab is a British Conservative
politician. He is the Member of Parliament
for Esher and Walton in Surrey
and is a former international business lawyer.
, to a Czech father, who came to Britain in 1938 as a Jewish refugee. Raab went to Dr Challoner's Grammar School
in Amersham
. He went on to Oxford University
, where he read law. After graduating, Raab gained a Masters from Cambridge University. Raab started his career as a business lawyer at Linklaters
in London
. Raab spent the summer of 1998 at Birzeit University
(near Ramallah
) where he worked for one of the principal Palestinian
negotiators of the Oslo peace accords, assessing World Bank
projects on the West Bank
.
In 2000, Raab joined the Foreign Office
, covering a range of briefs including leading a team at the British Embassy in The Hague
, dedicated to bringing war criminals to justice. Upon returning to London, he advised on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, the European Union
, and Gibraltar
. From 2006 to 2010, Raab worked in Parliament as Chief of Staff
to Shadow Home Secretary
David Davis
, and to fellow lawyer and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Dominic Grieve
.
Raab lives in and commutes from the constituency. Since the election, he has campaigned for fairer funding for local services in Elmbridge
, stronger local democracy in the running of community hospitals in Cobham
, Walton
and Molesey, in favour of more visible and responsive policing and against the construction of an M25
service station
at Downside
.
In the House of Commons, he has spoken out strongly in support of the coalition government’s plans to cut the budget deficit, expand academy schools, repeal ID cards and enact a Freedom Bill. He criticised the government for opting into the EU directive on a European Investigation Order
, arguing it would strain operational policing resources, and dilute safeguards protecting UK citizens from misuse of personal data and guaranteeing a fair trial.
In July 2010 he secured a review of ‘positive discrimination
’ rules being applied to Foreign Office work experience schemes, having been contact by a constituent
who had been rejected from the scheme for failing to meet "the social criteria". The two programmes at the organisation all barred white males from applying other than those from low income backgrounds, Raab argued they re-introduced discrimination ‘via the backdoor’. The MP welcomed the review, blaming the situation on the previous Labour
government. He stated "positive discrimination is wrong in the same way as negative discrimination. It means people are thinking in terms of social criteria and it is anti-meritocratic.”
He came to media attention in August 2010, after requesting that the pressure group 38 Degrees
remove his parliamentary email address from their website, to avoid being swamped with large numbers of identical emails. Whilst encouraging constituents to email, write to him, comment on his blog or attend one of his public meetings, he argued that ‘lobby groups’ sending or coordinating ‘clone emails’ designed to deluge MP’s inboxes detracted from their ability to help those in real need. 38 Degrees said that the email address is paid for by taxpayers' money and is in the public domain, thus they have every right to host it on their website and use it for campaigning.
In January 2011, Raab raised the case of a local constituent, killed in a brutal attack, when the perpetrator could not be deported back to Nepal in case it disrupted his family ties.
On 10 February 2011, Raab gave the winding up speech in the debate on whether to give prisoners the vote, arguing that freedom entails responsibility and that elected law-makers in the House of Commons rather than unaccountable judges in Strasbourg should decide the matter.
On 26 April 2011, Raab presented a Ten Minute Rule Bill
to the House of Commons entitled Industrial Relations (Voting Procedures). The bill argued that emergency service and transport Unions should be required by law to ensure that strike votes receive 50% support of union members. Raab argued that reform was needed to prevent "militant union bosses" holding the "hard working majority" to ransom.
In June 2011, Raab wrote an article for the Telegraph, where he called for a ban on taxpayers subsidising union activity within the UK Government departments and agencies. Figures from the Ministry of Justice showed it had spent more than £6million on staff working on union activities in 2008/9. Raab argued that at a time when the Government and the country are tightening their belts taxpayers' money should not be spent on subsidising union activities. He suggested that the Government ask the National Audit Office to undertake an inquiry to uncover the full extent of the cost to the taxpayer of union subsidisation across the public sector.
On 22 June 2011, the Joint Committee on Human Rights
(JCHR) published a report on The Human Rights Implications of UK Extradition. As a member of the JCHR, Raab proposed that the committee look into the issue of fast-track extradition of British citizens following several instances of miscarriages of justice. In an article for The Times(The Times newspaper, Thunderer Column, 22 June 2011). Raab argued that more needed to be done to portect British citizens subject to European Arrest Warrants. The JCHR have called for safeguards to ensure warrants are not issued for minor offences and when there is minimal evidence and checks to prevent extradition for investigation rather than prosecution.
In October 2011, Raab participated in a debate for The Guardian on human rights with Shami Chakrabati of Liberty. In the piece, Raab argued for a British bill of rights rather than the Human Rights Act both to protect our core freedoms and curtail judicial legislation.
Following the publication of Sir Scott Baker’s report on extradition, Raab wrote an article for the Daily Mail. He said the government should disregard the Baker report and instead institute a radical overhaul of the current system, based on the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
On 16 November 2011, Raab won “Newcomer of the Year” at The Spectator’s
Parliamentary Awards.
On 24 November 2011, Raab led a debate in the House of Commons calling for extradition reform. His campaign has cross party support and is also backed by victims including Gary Mackinnon’s mother, Janis Sharpe.
's attacks on Britain's proud tradition of freedom".
In October 2010, he published Fight Terror, Defend Freedom, a pamphlet on the Home Office
counter-terrorism
review.
In January 2011, Raab wrote an article on the use of control orders in counter terrorism cases in which he contended that they are ineffective and should be scrapped with a greater focus on prosecutions.
Raab published a pamphlet with the think-tank Civitas entitled Strasbourg in the Dock in April 2011. The pamphlet follows Parliament's recent rejection of a European Court ruling giving prisoners the right to vote. Raab argues that unelected judges have overstepped the mark in relation to the Hirst case. He contends that many of the judges are lacking in experience and as a result "are undermining the credibility and value of the Court". He makes a range of proposals to strengthen the authority of Britain's Supreme Court, give elected law-makers the last word on creation of new rights and reform of the Strasbourg Court.
In July 2011, Raab called for reform of the UK Borders Act (2007) which currently allows foreign criminals to avoid deportation by claiming a "right to family life" under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
. Raab has proposed that the reference to the Human Rights Act be removed. He argues this could be done in a way that ensures foreign criminals could only avoid deportation if there is a "serious risk" they will be tortured on their return.
protections in extradition
cases compared to deportation
cases.
In a 24 January 2011 article on the Politics Home website, Raab argued in favour of transferable paternity leave and against "the equality bandwagon
" "pitting men and women against each other". He also argued in favour of a consistent approach to sexism against men and women commenting that some feminists were "now amongst the most obnoxious bigots" and it was sexist to blame men for the recession. Raab highlighted the wide range of sex discrimination faced by males including "anti-male discrimination in rights of maternity/paternity leave" young boys being "educationally disadvantaged compared to girls", and how "divorced or separated fathers are systematically ignored by the courts." Raab stated "from the cradle to the grave, men are getting a raw deal. Men work longer hours, die earlier, but retire later than women", noting that the pensions inequalities were still not going to be rectified for another seven years.
He was subsequently interviewed on the piece by the Evening Standard
and BBC Radio 4
. Theresa May
the Minister for Women and Equalities criticised Raab's "obnoxious bigots" comment but agreed with his suggestions on paternity leaving and ending gender warfare Raab's remarks were condemned by Labour MPs such as Harriet Harman
and Nia Griffith
who said Raab should "stop being so self-pitying". However, Raab stood by his comments in a comment piece for The Telegraph
, highlighting the various sexist statements Harman had made about men, contrasting them with similar comments about women by the likes of Andy Gray. Raab also noted he had received an "overwhelmingly positive" reaction to his comments "from both men and women".
Raab also contributed to David Davis' book, The Future of Conservatism, with a chapter on trade union reform. This came off the back of other work by Raab on the subject.
, and they live in Thames Ditton, Surrey.
Raab is a black belt
3rd Dan
in karate
- former UK Southern Regions Champion and British squad member.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He is the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Esher and Walton in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and is a former international business lawyer.
Biography
Raab grew up in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, to a Czech father, who came to Britain in 1938 as a Jewish refugee. Raab went to Dr Challoner's Grammar School
Dr Challoner's Grammar School
Dr Challoner's Grammar School, often abbreviated to DCGS, is an Academy Grammar School of approximately 1,300 boys located in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England....
in Amersham
Amersham
Amersham is a market town and civil parish within Chiltern district in Buckinghamshire, England, 27 miles north west of London, in the Chiltern Hills. It is part of the London commuter belt....
. He went on to Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, where he read law. After graduating, Raab gained a Masters from Cambridge University. Raab started his career as a business lawyer at Linklaters
Linklaters
Linklaters LLP is a global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom and a member of the 'Magic Circle' of leading UK law firms. Linklaters is the world's fourth largest global law firm by revenue. In 2009/10 it received total revenues of £1.18 billion and profits per equity partner of £1.2...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Raab spent the summer of 1998 at Birzeit University
Birzeit University
Birzeit University is a university located in Birzeit near Ramallah, Palestinian territories. BZU is among the foremost tertiary educational institutes in the Palestinian territories and has played a significant role in the Palestinian political dialogue.- History :The institution was originally...
(near Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
) where he worked for one of the principal Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
negotiators of the Oslo peace accords, assessing World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
projects on the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
.
In 2000, Raab joined the Foreign Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
, covering a range of briefs including leading a team at the British Embassy in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, dedicated to bringing war criminals to justice. Upon returning to London, he advised on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, and Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. From 2006 to 2010, Raab worked in Parliament as Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
to Shadow Home Secretary
Shadow Home Secretary
In British politics, the Shadow Home Secretary is the person within the shadow cabinet who 'shadows' the Home Secretary; this effectively means scrutinising government policy on home affairs including policing, national security, immigration, the criminal justice system, the prison service, and...
David Davis
David Davis (British politician)
David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
, and to fellow lawyer and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
Shadow Secretary of State for Justice
In British politics the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice is the member of the Shadow Cabinet who shadows the Secretary of State for Justice, an office which has existed since 2007. Prior to 2007, the office was known as Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs...
Dominic Grieve
Dominic Grieve
Dominic Charles Roberts Grieve, QC MP is a British Conservative politician, barrister and Queen's Counsel.He is the Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield and the Attorney General for England and Wales and the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.-Early life:Grieve was born in Lambeth, the son of...
.
Political career
Raab was elected to Parliament to represent Esher & Walton at the 2010 election with a total of 32,134 votes (a popular vote of 58.9%). Dominic gained a majority of 18,593 over his nearest rival.Raab lives in and commutes from the constituency. Since the election, he has campaigned for fairer funding for local services in Elmbridge
Elmbridge
Elmbridge is a local government district and borough in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Esher. The district has only one civil parish, which is Claygate...
, stronger local democracy in the running of community hospitals in Cobham
Cobham, Surrey
Cobham is a town in the Borough of Elmbridge in Surrey, England, about south-west of central London and north of Leatherhead. Elmbridge has been acclaimed by the Daily Mail as the best place to live in the UK, and Cobham is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt...
, Walton
Walton-on-the-Hill
Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, is a village in England, situated midway between Reigate and Epsom, just inside the M25 orbital motorway around London. It is situated close to the larger village of Tadworth. Other neighbouring villages include: Kingswood, Burgh Heath, Headley and Box Hill...
and Molesey, in favour of more visible and responsive policing and against the construction of an M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
service station
Motorway service area
In the UK motorway service areas, also known as service stations, are places where drivers can leave a motorway to refuel, rest, or take refreshments. The vast majority of motorway services in the UK are owned by one of three companies: Moto, Welcome Break and RoadChef. Extra are also developing a...
at Downside
Downside, Surrey
Downside is a small village in the English county of Surrey, part of Cobham and Downside ward in the local government district of Elmbridge. Downside Village was designated as a Conservation Area in 1979....
.
In the House of Commons, he has spoken out strongly in support of the coalition government’s plans to cut the budget deficit, expand academy schools, repeal ID cards and enact a Freedom Bill. He criticised the government for opting into the EU directive on a European Investigation Order
European Investigation Order
In April 2010, a group of seven Member States has put forward a proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters , which would replace the existing legal framework applicable to the gathering and transfer of evidence...
, arguing it would strain operational policing resources, and dilute safeguards protecting UK citizens from misuse of personal data and guaranteeing a fair trial.
In July 2010 he secured a review of ‘positive discrimination
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
’ rules being applied to Foreign Office work experience schemes, having been contact by a constituent
Constituent
-In politics:*Electoral district or constituency*Constituent , an individual voter within an electoral constituency*Interest group or constituency*Constituent assembly*entity forming part of a sovereign state:**Constituent state**Constituent country...
who had been rejected from the scheme for failing to meet "the social criteria". The two programmes at the organisation all barred white males from applying other than those from low income backgrounds, Raab argued they re-introduced discrimination ‘via the backdoor’. The MP welcomed the review, blaming the situation on the previous Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
government. He stated "positive discrimination is wrong in the same way as negative discrimination. It means people are thinking in terms of social criteria and it is anti-meritocratic.”
He came to media attention in August 2010, after requesting that the pressure group 38 Degrees
38 Degrees
38 Degrees is a UK non-profit, progressive, political activism organisation that campaigns on a diverse range of issues, such as protecting the environment and tackling climate change, democratic media ownership, child poverty and political reform...
remove his parliamentary email address from their website, to avoid being swamped with large numbers of identical emails. Whilst encouraging constituents to email, write to him, comment on his blog or attend one of his public meetings, he argued that ‘lobby groups’ sending or coordinating ‘clone emails’ designed to deluge MP’s inboxes detracted from their ability to help those in real need. 38 Degrees said that the email address is paid for by taxpayers' money and is in the public domain, thus they have every right to host it on their website and use it for campaigning.
In January 2011, Raab raised the case of a local constituent, killed in a brutal attack, when the perpetrator could not be deported back to Nepal in case it disrupted his family ties.
On 10 February 2011, Raab gave the winding up speech in the debate on whether to give prisoners the vote, arguing that freedom entails responsibility and that elected law-makers in the House of Commons rather than unaccountable judges in Strasbourg should decide the matter.
On 26 April 2011, Raab presented a Ten Minute Rule Bill
Ten Minute Rule
The Ten Minute Rule, also known as Standing Order No. 23, is a procedure in the British Parliament for the introduction of Private Member's Bills in addition to the 20 per session normally permissible. It is one of the ways in which a bill may receive its first reading.Any MP may introduce a bill...
to the House of Commons entitled Industrial Relations (Voting Procedures). The bill argued that emergency service and transport Unions should be required by law to ensure that strike votes receive 50% support of union members. Raab argued that reform was needed to prevent "militant union bosses" holding the "hard working majority" to ransom.
In June 2011, Raab wrote an article for the Telegraph, where he called for a ban on taxpayers subsidising union activity within the UK Government departments and agencies. Figures from the Ministry of Justice showed it had spent more than £6million on staff working on union activities in 2008/9. Raab argued that at a time when the Government and the country are tightening their belts taxpayers' money should not be spent on subsidising union activities. He suggested that the Government ask the National Audit Office to undertake an inquiry to uncover the full extent of the cost to the taxpayer of union subsidisation across the public sector.
On 22 June 2011, the Joint Committee on Human Rights
Joint Committee on Human Rights
The Joint Committee on Human Rights is a select committee of both the House of Commons and House of Lords in the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
(JCHR) published a report on The Human Rights Implications of UK Extradition. As a member of the JCHR, Raab proposed that the committee look into the issue of fast-track extradition of British citizens following several instances of miscarriages of justice. In an article for The Times(The Times newspaper, Thunderer Column, 22 June 2011). Raab argued that more needed to be done to portect British citizens subject to European Arrest Warrants. The JCHR have called for safeguards to ensure warrants are not issued for minor offences and when there is minimal evidence and checks to prevent extradition for investigation rather than prosecution.
In October 2011, Raab participated in a debate for The Guardian on human rights with Shami Chakrabati of Liberty. In the piece, Raab argued for a British bill of rights rather than the Human Rights Act both to protect our core freedoms and curtail judicial legislation.
Following the publication of Sir Scott Baker’s report on extradition, Raab wrote an article for the Daily Mail. He said the government should disregard the Baker report and instead institute a radical overhaul of the current system, based on the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
On 16 November 2011, Raab won “Newcomer of the Year” at The Spectator’s
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
Parliamentary Awards.
On 24 November 2011, Raab led a debate in the House of Commons calling for extradition reform. His campaign has cross party support and is also backed by victims including Gary Mackinnon’s mother, Janis Sharpe.
Civil liberties and justice
In 2009, Raab published his first book, The Assault on Liberty — What Went Wrong with Rights, in which he argued against what he claimed was "LabourLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
's attacks on Britain's proud tradition of freedom".
In October 2010, he published Fight Terror, Defend Freedom, a pamphlet on the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
review.
In January 2011, Raab wrote an article on the use of control orders in counter terrorism cases in which he contended that they are ineffective and should be scrapped with a greater focus on prosecutions.
Raab published a pamphlet with the think-tank Civitas entitled Strasbourg in the Dock in April 2011. The pamphlet follows Parliament's recent rejection of a European Court ruling giving prisoners the right to vote. Raab argues that unelected judges have overstepped the mark in relation to the Hirst case. He contends that many of the judges are lacking in experience and as a result "are undermining the credibility and value of the Court". He makes a range of proposals to strengthen the authority of Britain's Supreme Court, give elected law-makers the last word on creation of new rights and reform of the Strasbourg Court.
In July 2011, Raab called for reform of the UK Borders Act (2007) which currently allows foreign criminals to avoid deportation by claiming a "right to family life" under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights
European Convention on Human Rights
The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms is an international treaty to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in Europe. Drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe, the convention entered into force on 3 September 1953...
. Raab has proposed that the reference to the Human Rights Act be removed. He argues this could be done in a way that ensures foreign criminals could only avoid deportation if there is a "serious risk" they will be tortured on their return.
Equality, meritocracy and positive discrimination
On 30 January, he wrote a comment piece for the Sunday Times on the Equality Act. Raab argued for a meritocratic approach against positive discrimination and highlighted the lower standard of human rightsHuman rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
protections in extradition
Extradition
Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal to another nation or state. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties...
cases compared to deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
cases.
In a 24 January 2011 article on the Politics Home website, Raab argued in favour of transferable paternity leave and against "the equality bandwagon
Bandwagon
Bandwagon may refer to:* a wagon which carries a band of musicians in a parade or for promotional purposes. Other uses of the term derive from this one.* Bandwagon effect, "copycat" behavior...
" "pitting men and women against each other". He also argued in favour of a consistent approach to sexism against men and women commenting that some feminists were "now amongst the most obnoxious bigots" and it was sexist to blame men for the recession. Raab highlighted the wide range of sex discrimination faced by males including "anti-male discrimination in rights of maternity/paternity leave" young boys being "educationally disadvantaged compared to girls", and how "divorced or separated fathers are systematically ignored by the courts." Raab stated "from the cradle to the grave, men are getting a raw deal. Men work longer hours, die earlier, but retire later than women", noting that the pensions inequalities were still not going to be rectified for another seven years.
He was subsequently interviewed on the piece by the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
and BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. Theresa May
Theresa May
Theresa Mary May is a British Conservative politician who is Home Secretary in the Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition government. She was elected to Parliament in 1997 as the Member of Parliament for Maidenhead, and served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party, 2003–04...
the Minister for Women and Equalities criticised Raab's "obnoxious bigots" comment but agreed with his suggestions on paternity leaving and ending gender warfare Raab's remarks were condemned by Labour MPs such as Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman
Harriet Ruth Harman QC is a British Labour Party politician, who is the Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham, and was MP for the predecessorPeckham constituency from 1982 to 1997...
and Nia Griffith
Nia Griffith
Nia Rhiannon Griffith is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Llanelli since 2005.-Background:...
who said Raab should "stop being so self-pitying". However, Raab stood by his comments in a comment piece for The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, highlighting the various sexist statements Harman had made about men, contrasting them with similar comments about women by the likes of Andy Gray. Raab also noted he had received an "overwhelmingly positive" reaction to his comments "from both men and women".
After the Coalition and the Future of Conservatism
In October 2011 Dominic Raab, along with 4 other 2010 intake MPs published 'After the Coalition', arguing that Conservative principles adapted to the modern world are essential for future national success of the party. The book was serialised in the Daily Telegraph. Raab wrote his piece for the paper on British foreign policy. He argued foreign policy should reflect the national interest – Britain should not over extend itself in foreign conflicts, aid should be focused on the poorest countries and Britain should champion free trade abroad.Raab also contributed to David Davis' book, The Future of Conservatism, with a chapter on trade union reform. This came off the back of other work by Raab on the subject.
Regulation
In November 2011, Raab wrote a pamphlet published by the Centre for Policy Studies, Escaping the Strait Jacket - Ten Regulatory Reforms to Create Jobs. The paper makes the case for reforming red-tape to boost job creation on grounds of economic competitiveness and social fairness.Personal life
Raab is married to Erika Raab, a Brazilian marketing executiveMarketing management
Marketing management is a business discipline which is focused on the practical application of marketing techniques and the management of a firm's marketing resources and activities...
, and they live in Thames Ditton, Surrey.
Raab is a black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
3rd Dan
Karate belts
-Use:The Karate belt system is used in martial arts training to show the progress that a student has made in his/her study. The student starts out at a low rank of belt and progresses through the ranks to make it to the top to instruct students him/her self. They have to advance through the ranks...
in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
- former UK Southern Regions Champion and British squad member.
External links
- Dom Raab's official website
- Dom Raab's blog
- Raab's channel at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....