Gavin Williamson resigns after more bullying claims, PM’s leadership questioned
PM Rishi Sunak is facing questions about his judgement following Gavin Williamson’s resignation amid fresh bullying claims.
The PM will face MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions – he is expected to be asked when he learned the full allegations against Williamson.
Williamson is accused of being abusive and bullying behaviour towards MPs and civil servants.
He denies any wrongdoing.
Labour have used the allegations against Williamson to question the prime minister’s judgement saying the episode had shown poor leadership by the PM.
Complaints against Sir Gavin first emerged when the Sunday Times published a series of expletive-laden texts he sent last month to Wendy Morton.
In the texts, he complained about not having been invited to the Queen’s funeral and accused Ms Morton – the then Tory chief whip – of “rigging” ticket allocations against MPs not “favoured” by then PM Liz Truss.
A senior civil servant spoke to the Guardian – saying Sir Gavin told them to “slit your throat” and “jump out of the window.”
Sir Gavin’s former deputy Anne Milton also claimed he had behaved in a “threatening” and “intimidating” way towards MPs while serving as chief whip.
