Isabel Hardman
Williamson out after bullying allegations
In the past few minutes Gavin Williamson has quit the government after another formal complaint was made about his conduct. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, the former minister without portfolio says the allegations against him – which he denies – were becoming a ‘distraction’ from the work the government was doing.
His letter, which you can read in full below, says he is stepping back from government so he can ‘comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing’. There have been two formal complaints made public so far. The first was from Wendy Morton, who alleged that Williamson bullied her in expletive-ridden messages about not being invited to the Queen’s funeral. Morton had made a formal complaint to the Conservative party and today referred it to parliament’s independent complaints process as well. The second one was arguably more difficult for Williamson because it came from an official who alleges the minister told them to ‘slit your throat’ and jump out of a window. This relates to Williamson’s time as Defence Secretary. A complaint from a fellow politician and participant in the hurly-burly of Westminster is one thing. One from an official is quite another and this made it much more difficult for Williamson to stay in a Cabinet Office post in particular where he had specific responsibilities with regards to civil servants.
Of course, this makes things a bit easier for Rishi Sunak in that he doesn’t have to answer six questions on Gavin Williamson remaining in government at Prime Minister’s Questions. Williamson’s letter suggests he’s chosen to quit rather than being pushed, which doesn’t give Sunak a great image of authority and strength, as it appears that Williamson is still the one calling the shots.
In Sunak’s response to Williamson’s letter, he thanks him for his personal support and loyalty, which is a nod to the integral role the former chief whip played in his leadership campaign. It also suggests that Sunak has had nothing to do with Williamson going and doesn’t want to do anything to cheese him off.
But this is the first resignation from the new Prime Minister’s government and it is over behaviour once again. With the privileges committee investigation into Boris Johnson getting more serious in the coming weeks, it’s going to be very difficult for Sunak to dodge ongoing questions about whether his party is fit to stay in office much longer.
— Gavin Williamson (@GavinWilliamson) November 8, 2022