Prime minister’s judgment in making Williamson minister called into question
Grant Shapps, the business secretary, was the No 10 voice on the airwaves this morning. In an interview with Sky News, he said Sir Gavin Williamson should not have sent aggressive messages to Wendy Morton. Shapps said:
I don’t think it was the right thing to do, to send messages like that. I see they must have been sent in a moment of frustration. I think, generally, it is the case that it’s much better to write things which you would not live to regret later.
And especially with colleagues, writing things which are polite, even if you have a point of view to express, I think is not unreasonable. So, I don’t think he was right to send them. The prime minister said the same. I know that the party is going through a process looking at them at the moment.
They were not acceptable or right. It was a difficult time for our party at the time, but regardless, people always should be treated with respect.
I am glad Gavin has expressed regret. There is an independent complaint process which is running, its right and reasonable we let that conclude.
The Tory MP, who told the Conservative party at the weekend that she was willing to discuss the matter, said that Williamson had called her into his office when he was chief whip in 2016.
At the time she was campaigning on an issue that was causing the government difficulty. During the meeting Williamson is said to have raised a sensitive issue about her private life, which she interpreted as a tacit threat.
Prime minister’s judgment in making Williamson minister called into questionGrant Shapps, the business secretary, was the No 10 voice on the airwaves this morning. In an interview with Sky News, he said Sir Gavin Williamson should not have sent aggressive messages to Wendy Morton. Shapps said:I don’t think it was the right thing to do, to send messages like that. I see they must have been sent in a moment of frustration. I think, generally, it is the case that it’s much better to write things which you would not live to regret later.And especially with colleagues, writing things which are polite, even if you have a point of view to express, I think is not unreasonable. So, I don’t think he was right to send them. The prime minister said the same. I know that the party is going through a process looking at them at the moment.They were not acceptable or right. It was a difficult time for our party at the time, but regardless, people always should be treated with respect.I am glad Gavin has expressed regret. There is an independent complaint process which is running, its right and reasonable we let that conclude.The Tory MP, who told the Conservative party at the weekend that she was willing to discuss the matter, said that Williamson had called her into his office when he was chief whip in 2016.At the time she was campaigning on an issue that was causing the government difficulty. During the meeting Williamson is said to have raised a sensitive issue about her private life, which she interpreted as a tacit threat. Continue reading…
