Minister faces bullying probe over 'abusive' texts to colleague

2022-11-05

Cabinet Office minister Sir Gavin Williamson faces ‘bullying probe’ over ‘intimidating’ foul-mouthed texts to ex-Chief Whip Wendy Morton complaining that he wasn’t invited to the Queen’s funeral

Twice-fired Cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson is facing an investigation
He sent foul-mouthed messages to then-Chief Whip over the Queen’s funeral
Williamson felt slighted that he and ‘out of favour’ others were not invited
Wendy Morton filed an official complaint over the ‘bullying’ messages received
PM Rishi Sunak is facing questions over reappointing Williamson in Cabinet

Twice-fired Cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson is facing an investigation over foul-mouthed text messages sent to ex-Chief Whip Wendy Morton when he realised he’d been overlooked for an invitation to the Queen’s funeral.

Williamson, who earned a spot in Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet despite being sacked by both Theresa May and Boris Johnson, accused Liz Truss’s government of ‘punishing’ senior MPs who were out of favour.

In text messages seen by The Sunday Times, Williamson told Ms Morton ‘let’s see how many more times you f**k us all over. There is a price for everything’.

Williamson complained it was ‘very poor’ privy councillors – senior politicians who formally advise the monarch – who ‘aren’t favoured’ were excluded from the September 19 funeral at Westminster Abbey.

He said ‘it sends a very clear message’.

Ms Morton refuted that assessment, explaining the government had a limited number of tickets and the majority were reserved for sitting Cabinet members.

At the time, Williamson was a backbencher.

Williamson said: ‘Well certainly looks it which think is very s**t and perception becomes reality. Also don’t forget I know how this works so don’t p**s me about.

‘It’s very clear how you are going to treat a number of us which is very s****d and you are showing f**k all interest in pulling things together.

‘Also this shows exactly how you have rigged it is is (sic) disgusting you are using her death to punish people who are just supportive, absolutely disgusting.’

The paper said then party chairman, Sir Jake Berry, informed Mr Sunak the day before he entered No 10 as Prime Minister that Ms Morton had submitted a formal complaint to the party about Williamson’s conduct.

Mr Sunak assured the public after becoming Tory leader he’d run a government with ‘integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level’.

According to The Sunday Times, Mr Sunak did not recall the ‘specifics’ of their conversation.

Both Sir Jake and Ms Morton lost their jobs in the ensuing reshuffle while Williamson – a former chief whip and a supporter of Mr Sunak – returned to government.

Ms Morton said in her complaint the texts amounted to ‘bullying and intimidation of parliamentary colleagues’

He was sacked first by Theresa May as defence secretary for leaking details of a national security council meeting and then by Mr Johnson as education secretary over the Covid-19 A-levels debacle.

Sir Jake told the paper he was informed by the Conservative Party chief executive on October 24 that a complaint was filed against Williamson regarding allegations of ‘bullying and intimidation of parliamentary colleagues’.

It’s understood the complaint is still being assessed and a formal inquiry could later be launched.

Williamson told The Sunday Times: ‘I of course regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated.

‘I am happy to speak with Wendy and I hope to work positively with her in the future as I have in the past.’

Both Sir Jake and Ms Morton lost their jobs in the ensuing reshuffle while Williamson – a former chief whip and a supporter of Mr Sunak – returned to government. Pictured: Mr Sunak’s first Cabinet meeting the morning after assuming office

Any investigation into Williamson’s behaviour will be kept confidential, a Conservative Party spokesman said.

‘The Conservative Party has a robust complaints process in place. This process is rightly a confidential one, so that complainants can come forward in confidence.’

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said Mr Sunak’s decision to bring Sir Gavin back into Government called his judgment into question.

‘Gavin Williamson was sacked from Cabinet twice, yet despite risking national security, he’s back at the heart of Government,’ she said.

‘Rishi Sunak’s pledge to restore integrity, professionalism and accountability has been exposed as nothing more than hollow words. Far from stopping the rot in Downing Street, he’s letting it fester.’

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