Gavin Williamson: Rishi Sunak faces questions following minister's resignation

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing questions astir his judgement aft the resignation of furniture curate Sir Gavin Williamson implicit alleged bullying.

Mr Sunak is acceptable to look MPs astatine Prime Minister's Questions and is expected to beryllium asked erstwhile helium learned the afloat details of the allegations.

Sir Gavin is accused of abusive behaviour towards chap MPs and civilian servants, though denies immoderate wrongdoing.

Labour said the occurrence has shown "poor judgement and leadership" by Mr Sunak.

Sir Gavin was appointed curate without portfolio aft Mr Sunak, a adjacent governmental ally, won the Tory enactment conscionable 2 weeks ago.

Complaints against him archetypal emerged erstwhile The Sunday Times published a bid of expletive-laden texts helium sent past period to then-chief whip Wendy Morton.

In the texts, helium appears to kick astir not having been invited to the Queen's funeral, and seemingly accuses Ms Morton of "rigging" summons allocations against MPs not "favoured" by then-prime curate Liz Truss.

He reportedly warned Ms Morton "not to propulsion him about" and said that "there is simply a terms for everything".

A elder civilian servant aboriginal told the Guardian that, during his clip arsenic defence secretary, Sir Gavin told them to "slit your throat" and, connected different occasion, to "jump retired of the window".

On Tuesday, his erstwhile deputy, Anne Milton, besides claimed helium had behaved successful a "threatening" and "intimidating" mode towards MPs portion serving arsenic main whip.

Ex-Conservative Party Chair Jake Berry has said helium told Mr Sunak astir Ms Morton's ailment connected 24 October, the time earlier Sir Gavin's appointment.

No 10 has said the premier curate "knew determination was a disagreement" but that helium didn't cognize the "substance" of that messages until they were published by the Sunday Times.

Sir Gavin has been reported to the MPs' bullying watchdog, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, implicit his WhatsApp messages to Ms Morton.

The Guardian has reported that the civilian servant from the ministry of defence has besides lodged a ailment with the body.

Speaking connected Monday, Mr Sunak said the connection utilized successful the texts was "not acceptable", but asked if it amounted to bullying said it was "right" to fto an autarkic complaints process conclude.

Sir Gavin's resignation marks the 3rd clip helium has been forced from government. In 2019, helium was sacked arsenic defence caput aft allegedly leaking delicate accusation related to Huawei's imaginable engagement successful the UK's 5G network.

Later that year, helium was made acquisition caput by Boris Johnson, but successful 2021 was removed implicit his handling of A-level exams during the Covid pandemic.

Speaking connected BBC Two's Newsnight, lawman Labour person Angela Rayner called Sir Gavin's assignment past period "astonishing" and said it showed "poor judgement and deficiency of enactment and weakness" connected the portion of the premier minister.

"It would beryllium precise astonishing [if] they weren't alert of the afloat spot of the allegations against Gavin Williamson erstwhile helium was appointed," she said.

She accused Mr Sunak of appointing Sir Gavin arsenic portion of a "grubby small backroom deal" to marque himself premier curate alternatively of "governing the state successful the interests of the British people".

Ms Rayner besides said Sir Gavin should basal down arsenic an MP if the bullying claims are proven. "There is nary spot for bullies successful parliament," she said.

Liberal Democrat lawman person Daisy Cooper said: "Rishi Sunak has superior questions to reply astir wherefore helium appointed Gavin Williamson, past stood by him alternatively of sacking him.

"His committedness to pb a authorities of integrity has present been near successful tatters."

In his resignation letter, Sir Gavin said helium refuted the "characterisation" of the claims "about my past conduct" but felt they had go a "distraction from the bully enactment the authorities is doing".

He added that helium had apologised to the recipient of the substance messages and would comply with the complaints process to "clear my sanction of immoderate wrongdoing".

He aboriginal tweeted that helium would not beryllium taking immoderate severance pay, traditionally fixed to ministers erstwhile they permission office.

In reply, Mr Sunak said helium accepted the resignation "with large sadness" and thanked Sir Gavin for his "personal enactment and loyalty".

"Your committedness to successive Conservative governments and the enactment implicit the years has been unwavering," helium said.

Mr Sunak is besides facing unit implicit wherefore helium reappointed Suella Braverman arsenic location caput conscionable weeks aft she was forced to resign for breaking ministerial rules by sending an authoritative papers to a chap MP from her idiosyncratic email.

Opposition figures person again accused him of keeping her successful the furniture arsenic portion of an statement to guarantee her enactment for his presumption arsenic premier minister.