The report was handed to Number 10 on Thursday morning and the prime minister has been "carefully considering" its findings.

Sources in Number 10 said: "The prime minister is taking the time to go through the report thoroughly and consider."

Late on Thursday afternoon, Sky News was told "no further action" would take place on the day regarding Mr Raab's future.

Mr Raab, the deputy prime minister and justice secretary, has been subject to an independent investigation by senior lawyer Adam Tolley KC into multiple bullying allegations since November last year.

Labour criticised the delay by Mr Sunak and said he needs to deal with the saga now as there are much more important things to get on with.

Shadow cabinet member Emily Thornberry said: "I just think whilst he dithers and delays and summons up the courage to sack his deputy the rest of the country is dealing with the cost of living crisis, which is worse than it has been in a generation.

"Prices aren't keeping up with wages, people can't afford food and heating and their housing and the Conservative Party is in chaos again, not dealing with the priorities of the people who elected them.

"I think, quite frankly, the prime minister should read the report. If the man's a bully he should go.

"We just need to move on with this and move back to what's important for the public."

She added every time "one of these Conservatives get into trouble they don't just undermine the reputation of Conservatives, they undermine the reputation of all members of parliament".

Sky News also understands Mr Raab and Mr Sunak did not speak on Thursday - and Mr Raab has seen the report and maintains he has behaved professionally at all times.

Mr Sunak's spokesman said he had received the findings "this morning" and under ministerial rules, it is up to the prime minister to decide what to do with the findings - and what, if any, punishment Mr Raab should receive.

The spokesman said the PM's previous expression of having "full confidence" in Mr Raab "still stands".

But "obviously he's carefully considering the findings of the report before coming to a judgement", the spokesman added.

Downing Street would not indicate when the report will be published publicly but insisted a resolution will be sought "as swiftly as possible".

Mr Tolley was tasked with determining whether Mr Raab had bullied civil servants during his time as both foreign secretary from 2019 to 2021, and then justice secretary from 2021 to 2022 under Boris Johnson's premiership.

Read more:
What are the allegations against Dominic Raab?

Throughout the investigation, Mr Raab has insisted he "behaved professionally at all times" and pointed out he called the inquiry into himself when the accusations were made.

He told Sky News in February he would resign if the inquiry found he had bullied staff.

Mr Sunak now holds the cards to Mr Raab's future as the ministerial code states the prime minister is the ultimate judge of the standards expected of a minister.

The prime minister can also determine what the appropriate consequences are in the event of a breach of ministerial standards.

Mr Sunak has insisted since the inquiry began he would wait until it is concluded before he makes a decision, despite facing calls to suspend Mr Raab while the investigation took place.

'Rude and aggressive'

Mr Tolley is understood to have spoken to dozens of witnesses, including top civil servants and Mr Johnson, following claims Mr Raab created a "culture of fear" at the Ministry of Justice, and allegations that he was "very rude and aggressive".

Colleagues were allegedly "scared" to go into his office when he was foreign secretary, former permanent secretary Lord McDonald has said.

However, a Tory MP who formerly worked as a parliamentary private secretary to Mr Raab said his ex-boss was always "courteous and professional" with his staff.

Speaking after the report was handed to Downing Street, Gareth Johnson told Sky News he can "only go by what I witnessed", but added: "Not once did I ever witness him behaving in a manner that could be described as bullying."

Mr Raab remained at work as the findings were handed over to Downing Street, responding to Crown Prosecution Service statistics on rape cases.

He issued a tweet and statement on the issue in his role as justice secretary.

The cabinet minister funded his own legal team to defend against the allegations, it emerged on Wednesday.

The declaration in the heavily delayed register of ministerial interests came despite taxpayers footing an estimated £222,000 bill for former prime minister Boris Johnson's legal fees in the partygate inquiry into whether he lied to MPs.

In the register, Mr Raab's entry notes read: "The minister has engaged lawyers at his own expense in relation to the investigation being conducted by Adam Tolley KC."