A former senior civil servant who claimed Sir Gavin Williamson informed them to “slit your throat” has made a proper grievance towards him, saying his “words and actions had an extreme impact on my mental health”.
The allegations have been made final evening in The Guardian and included claims that Sir Gavin, who was the defence secretary on the time, informed the official on one other event to “jump out of the window“.
The Ministry of Defence official claimed his behaviour amounted to a sustained marketing campaign of bullying.
The official, who later left authorities, stated Sir Gavin “deliberately demeaned and intimidated” them frequently.
They reported the incidents informally to the top of human assets, however determined towards making a proper grievance on the time.
Sir Gavin, who ran the division between November 2017 till May 2019, stated: “I strongly reject this allegation and have enjoyed good working relationships with the many brilliant officials I have worked with across government.
“No particular allegations have ever been dropped at my consideration.”
Tonight the Cabinet Office minister confronted contemporary accusations from Anne Milton, the Tory former deputy chief whip, who informed Channel 4 News that he “loved salacious gossip and would use it as leverage against MPs if the need arose” when operating the whip’s workplace.
Ms Milton additionally claimed he used an MP’s monetary scenario as a supply of leverage, telling the programme: “I do keep in mind him asking me to offer the MP in query the cheque.
“And he waved it under my nose and said, ‘Make sure when you give him this cheque, he knows I now own him’.”
She added: “I don’t think it was a joke. It was the seriousness with which he said it. And I think that the bottom line is, if instances accord with your overall experience with somebody, then you believe them.”
Sky News has approached Sir Gavin for a response to Ms Milton’s allegations.
Earlier, Downing Street described the allegations from the previous civil servant as “serious” and stated it might contemplate “proper processes” earlier than commenting additional.
The civil servant stated they are going to formally complain to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), parliament’s impartial watchdog.
In an announcement, they stated: “This was an incredibly difficult period for me. Gavin Williamson’s words and actions had an extreme impact on my mental health.
“Government ministers have a code of conduct that they’re required to observe. Any type of abuse is unacceptable.”
The former civil servant said they had decided to come forward “after feeling stronger given the passage of time”.
The new grievance comes hours after it was confirmed former chief whip Wendy Morton had referred one other allegation made towards Sir Gavin – that he despatched “abusive” messages to her – to the ICGS.
The Cabinet Office minister is already topic to an inside Conservative Party investigation over the collection of threatening messages reportedly ship to Ms Morton, complaining he had been excluded from the Queen’s funeral.
Sir Gavin served as Theresa May’s chief whip from 2016 after which as defence secretary from November 2017 till May 2019, however was fired over a row round a leak from authorities.
He was employed again by Boris Johnson as training secretary two months later, however was once more ousted in September 2021 after a lot criticism of his dealing with of the temporary throughout the pandemic.
Mr Sunak introduced him again into authorities two weeks in the past to function a Cabinet Office minister who additionally attends cupboard.
Source: information.sky.com”