Sir Gavin Williamson has resigned from authorities over accusations of bullying, saying he’ll “clear [his] name of any wrongdoing”.
His departure got here shortly after an ex-civil servant, who claimed Sir Gavin advised them to “slit your throat”, made a proper grievance in opposition to the Cabinet Office minister.
In his resignation letter that he shared on Twitter, Sir Gavin mentioned he “refutes the characterisation of these claims”, however that the allegations have been “becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing for the British people”.
Politics stay: Williamson says allegations have been ‘changing into a distraction’
As a end result, he had “decided to step back from government” and would “fully with the complaints process”.
In his response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned he accepted the resignation “with great sadness”, however added: “I support your decision to step back and understand why you have taken it.”
Labour’s deputy chief Angela Rayner mentioned the occasions had proven “yet another Tory government has descended into chaos”.
Accusations in opposition to Sir Gavin got here to gentle over the weekend when experiences claimed he had despatched abusive texts to former chief whip Wendy Morton, complaining he had been excluded from the Queen’s funeral.
Ms Morton made a grievance to the Conservative Party concerning the messages, however earlier in the present day confirmed she was reporting him to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), parliament’s impartial watchdog.
On Monday, an additional allegation surfaced, with a former Ministry of Defence official saying Sir Gavin had advised them to “slit your throat” and, on one other event, “jump out of the window” in what they known as a sustained marketing campaign of bullying.
Earlier, that ex-civil servant confirmed they too can be going to the ICGS because the incidents had an “extreme impact” on their psychological well being.
Writing to Mr Sunak, who appointed him to his new cupboard simply two weeks in the past and had stood by his minister all through the week, Sir Gavin mentioned: “As you know, there is an ongoing complaints process concerning text messages I sent to a colleague [Ms Morton]. I am complying with this process and have apologised to the recipient for those messages.
“Since then there have been different allegations made about my previous conduct [the ex-civil servant]. I refute the characterisation of those claims however I recognise these have gotten a distraction for the nice work this authorities is doing for the British folks.
“I have therefore decided to step back from government so that I can comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing.”
Sir Gavin added that it was “with real sadness” that he provided his resignation, however that he would supply Mr Sunak his “full and total support from the backbenches”, and was “proud” to have labored for his authorities.
Writing in response, Mr Sunak mentioned Sir Gavin’s “commitment to successive Conservative governments and the party over the years has been unwavering”.
And after saying he supported the choice, the PM added: “I would like to thank you for your personal support and loyalty. I know you will continue to represent your constituents with diligence and care.”
Labour’s Ms Rayner claimed Mr Sunak had appointed Sir Gavin “with full knowledge of serious allegations about his conduct and repeatedly expressed confidence in him”, including the occasions of the previous weak had been “a damning reflection of a weak prime minister”.
She mentioned: “This is yet another example of Rishi Sunak’s poor judgement and weak leadership. It is clear that he is trapped by the grubby backroom deals he made to dodge a vote, and is incapable of putting country before party.
Sir Gavin served as Theresa May’s chief whip from 2016 and then as defence secretary from November 2017 until May 2019, but was fired over a row around a leak from government.
He was hired back by Boris Johnson as education secretary two months later, but was again ousted in September 2021 after much criticism of his handling of the brief during the pandemic.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said: “This ought to be the third and remaining time Gavin Williamson is compelled out of the Cabinet.
“Rishi Sunak has serious questions to answer about why he appointed Gavin Williamson, then stood by him instead of sacking him. His promise to lead a government of integrity has now been left in tatters.”
Source: information.sky.com”