Sir Gavin Williamson reported to bullying watchdog

Sir Gavin Williamson has been reported to Parliament's bullying watchdog implicit abusive messages to a colleague.

Leaked messages amusement Tory curate Sir Gavin threatening ex-chief whip Wendy Morton and accusing her of excluding immoderate MPs from the Queen's funeral.

Separately a elder civilian servant has accused Sir Gavin of "demeaning and intimidating" them, according to the Guardian.

He has "strongly" rejected allegations of bullying.

In them, helium appears to kick MPs who were not "favoured" by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss were being excluded from the ceremonial astatine Westminster Abbey.

He accused Ms Morton of "rigging" the summons allocation to punish radical - including himself - who were not supportive capable of Ms Truss.

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

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the connection Sir Gavin utilized was "not acceptable", but No 10 insisted helium inactive has assurance successful him.

Last month, Ms Morton sent the messages to the Conservative Party aft making a ceremonial ailment astir Sir Gavin's behaviour.

On Tuesday, she referred Sir Gavin to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

The autarkic assemblage looks into claims of parliamentarians and unit who consciousness they person been bullied oregon harassed.

Last year, investigations by the ICGS took 216 days connected mean to complete.

Under the process, complaints are initially assessed by an outer investigator. A determination is past made connected whether to determination to a afloat investigation.

Sir Gavin told the Sunday Times: "I of people regret getting frustrated astir the mode colleagues and I felt we were being treated."

Asked if it amounted to bullying, Mr Sunak said "an autarkic complaints process" was nether mode and it would beryllium "right to fto that process conclude".

Chair of the Labour Party Anneliese Dodds said Ms Morton's determination to study Sir Gavin to the ICGS shows a "lack of religion successful the Conservative Party complaints process".

"The subordinate stops with Rishi Sunak," she said.

"He was warned astir Gavin Williamson's behaviour and appointed him anyway."

Sir Gavin was brought backmost into authorities by Mr Sunak, aft helping tally the premier minister's enactment campaign.

The erstwhile architectural plan steadfast director, 46, had served arsenic defence caput nether Theresa May and acquisition caput nether Boris Johnson, and was sacked from some roles.

Sir Gavin was appointed Minister without Portfolio connected the archetypal time of Mr Sunak's premiership. His existent governmental responsibilities are not clear.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said Sir Gavin's relation successful authorities was "very important".

Mr Stride told Times Radio: "I deliberation Gavin is idiosyncratic who, arsenic I say, has peculiar talents and a peculiar knowing of the parliamentary party."

The lawman person of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, has said his instrumentality raised "yet much superior questions astir Rishi Sunak's judgement".

"If the premier curate was superior astir restoring integrity helium would sack Gavin Williamson," she said.

An unnamed authoritative told the Guardian Sir Gavin told him to "slit your throat" and "jump retired of the window" erstwhile helium was defence secretary.

The authoritative said they raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence's quality resources section but made nary ceremonial complaint.

Mr Stride told Sky News it would beryllium "utterly, utterly unacceptable" if Sir Gavin did marque the comment.

Sir Gavin was Defence Secretary betwixt 2017 and 2019 nether Theresa May, until helium was forced to resign aft details of Huawei's imaginable engagement successful the UK's 5G web were leaked.

In a statement, Sir Gavin said: "I powerfully cull this allegation and person enjoyed bully moving relationships with the galore superb officials I person worked with crossed government.

"No circumstantial allegations person ever been brought to my attention."

Mr Williamson does not contradict utilizing the language.

Gavin Williamson is not a universally fashionable figure. That's being polite. Some of his colleagues don't person overmuch clip for him astatine all.

But helium has been a cardinal state of Rishi Sunak successful caller months arsenic the premier curate fought his mode into Downing Street.

He was rewarded with a ministerial occupation and a spot astir the furniture table. It's not wholly wide yet what that occupation involves, but he's based successful the Cabinet Office with different cardinal Sunak ally, Oliver Dowden.

Mr Sunak appears to beryllium trying to thrust this 1 retired astatine the moment, waiting to spot what happens with a ailment made by Wendy Morton.

But Sir Gavin has galore critics who dislike his benignant and deliberation his power is exaggerated.