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| Gavin Williamson denies fresh bullying allegations | Gavin Williamson denies fresh bullying allegations |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Sir Gavin Williamson has denied further accusations of using bullying language against officials. | |
| According to the Guardian, the Cabinet Office minister told a senior civil servant to "slit your throat" and "jump out of the window" when he was defence secretary. | According to the Guardian, the Cabinet Office minister told a senior civil servant to "slit your throat" and "jump out of the window" when he was defence secretary. |
| The unnamed official claimed Sir Gavin "deliberately demeaned and intimidated" them. | The unnamed official claimed Sir Gavin "deliberately demeaned and intimidated" them. |
| Sir Gavin said he "strongly" rejected allegations of bullying. | Sir Gavin said he "strongly" rejected allegations of bullying. |
| The newspaper said the official raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence's human resources department but made no formal complaint. | The newspaper said the official raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence's human resources department but made no formal complaint. |
| In a statement, Sir Gavin said: "I strongly reject this allegation and have enjoyed good working relationships with the many brilliant officials I have worked with across government. No specific allegations have ever been brought to my attention." | In a statement, Sir Gavin said: "I strongly reject this allegation and have enjoyed good working relationships with the many brilliant officials I have worked with across government. No specific allegations have ever been brought to my attention." |
| Mr Williamson does not deny using the language. | Mr Williamson does not deny using the language. |
| A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, where Mr Williamson now serves as a minister, said the department had "not received notice of any formal complaints about Gavin Williamson's behaviour from his time at the Ministry of Defence or any other department." | A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, where Mr Williamson now serves as a minister, said the department had "not received notice of any formal complaints about Gavin Williamson's behaviour from his time at the Ministry of Defence or any other department." |
| Labour's party chair Anneliese Dodds said the allegations were "extremely serious" adding they "speak to the toxic culture at the top of the Conservative Party". | Labour's party chair Anneliese Dodds said the allegations were "extremely serious" adding they "speak to the toxic culture at the top of the Conservative Party". |
| Gavin Williamson texts unacceptable, PM says | Gavin Williamson texts unacceptable, PM says |
| Who is Sir Gavin Williamson? | Who is Sir Gavin Williamson? |
| Ex-education secretary Williamson to get knighthood | Ex-education secretary Williamson to get knighthood |
| This fresh claim puts further pressure on Sir Gavin who is already facing an investigation for allegedly bullying Wendy Morton when she was chief whip. | This fresh claim puts further pressure on Sir Gavin who is already facing an investigation for allegedly bullying Wendy Morton when she was chief whip. |
| Ms Morton complained to the Conservative Party after reportedly receiving a series of expletive-laden WhatsApp messages from Sir Gavin in which he accused the government of excluding certain MPs from the Queen's funeral service at Westminster Abbey. | Ms Morton complained to the Conservative Party after reportedly receiving a series of expletive-laden WhatsApp messages from Sir Gavin in which he accused the government of excluding certain MPs from the Queen's funeral service at Westminster Abbey. |
| In the texts, published by the Sunday Times, Sir Gavin is said to have warned Ms Morton "not to push him about" and that "there is a price for everything". | In the texts, published by the Sunday Times, Sir Gavin is said to have warned Ms Morton "not to push him about" and that "there is a price for everything". |
| Sir Gavin told the paper: "I of course regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated." | Sir Gavin told the paper: "I of course regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated." |
| Speaking from the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the language was not acceptable. | Speaking from the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the language was not acceptable. |
| Asked if it amounted to bullying, he said "an independent complaints process" was under way and it would be "right to let that process conclude". | Asked if it amounted to bullying, he said "an independent complaints process" was under way and it would be "right to let that process conclude". |
| Watch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptable | Watch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptable |
| Watch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptable | Watch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptable |
| Downing Street has said the prime minister has "full confidence" in Sir Gavin, who was first elected to Parliament as MP for South Staffordshire in 2010. | Downing Street has said the prime minister has "full confidence" in Sir Gavin, who was first elected to Parliament as MP for South Staffordshire in 2010. |
| The former architectural design firm director, 46, had served as defence secretary under Theresa May and education secretary under Boris Johnson, and was sacked from both roles. | The former architectural design firm director, 46, had served as defence secretary under Theresa May and education secretary under Boris Johnson, and was sacked from both roles. |
| Mr Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss as prime minister last month, brought Sir Gavin back into government. | Mr Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss as prime minister last month, brought Sir Gavin back into government. |
| The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, has said his return raised "yet more serious questions about Rishi Sunak's judgement". | The deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, has said his return raised "yet more serious questions about Rishi Sunak's judgement". |
| "If the prime minister was serious about restoring integrity he would sack Gavin Williamson." | "If the prime minister was serious about restoring integrity he would sack Gavin Williamson." |