Wendy Morton claims she received the messages while serving as Liz Truss’ chief whip (Picture: Getty/Rex)

Government minister Gavin Williamson has been accused of sending ‘vile and threatening’ messages to a senior Tory MP.

The controversial former education minister was brought back into the cabinet by Rishi Sunak after playing a behind-the-scenes role in his leadership campaign.

But the South Staffordshire MP is already back in the spotlight after Liz Truss’ former chief whip complained about his behaviour to party bosses.

Wendy Morton has handed screenshots of messages she says she received during the collapse of the previous government, Tortoise Media reported.

One MP familiar with the matter told the outlet there was ‘quite a bit of evidence’ spanning several weeks and suggested there was a misogynistic undertone, though the actual content of the messages hasn’t been disclosed.

The former whip confirmed she had submitted a complaint, Tortoise Media said, while a ‘friend’ of Mr Williamson said he ‘strongly refutes these allegations’ and is ‘very happy to share all communications with the former chief whip with CCHQ if needed’. 

Mr Wiliamson has been sacked from the cabinet on two separate occasions by different prime ministers.

Mr Williamson has been banished to the backbenches by two prime ministers but is back at the top table again (Picture: EPA)

He was dismissed by Theresa May for allegedly leaking details of national security discussions regarding Chinese investment in the 5G network, a charge he strenuously denied.

Boris Johnson removed him from government in a reshuffle after he was widely criticised for how the grading of school exams was handled during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

He has developed a reputation as a ‘fixer’ in Westminster and is believed to have played a crucial role in putting Mr Sunak in Number 10 before being rewarded with the role of minister without portfolio.

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Labour’s Angela Rayner said the appointment and allegations raise ‘fresh questions about Rishi Sunak’s woeful judgment in resurrecting ministers who left government under a cloud of misconduct’.

The PM had already been under pressure over the reappointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary less than a week after she sacked from the role.

Ms Braverman has admitted inadvertently sending sensitive material to someone working for an MP and using her personal phone to access Home Office documents on six other occasions. 

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Liz Truss’ former chief whip has made a complaint about the Rishi Sunak ally to Conservative Party bosses.