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Gavin Williamson denies fresh bullying allegations Gavin Williamson denies fresh bullying allegations
(about 7 hours later)
Sir Gavin Williamson has denied further accusations of using bullying language against officials. Sir Gavin Williamson has denied further accusations of bullying after an allegation from an official emerged.
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, Sir Gavin 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. Sir Gavin is also facing an investigation by Parliament's bullying watchdog over expletive-laden messages sent to former chief whip Wendy Morton.
Sir Gavin said he "strongly" rejected allegations of bullying. He has "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. An unnamed official told the Guardian Sir Gavin, who is now a Cabinet Office minister in Rishi Sunak's government, "deliberately demeaned and intimidated" them.
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." The official said they raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence's human resources department but made no formal complaint.
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."
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".
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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. Sir Gavin was Defence Secretary between 2017 and 2019 under Theresa May, until he was forced to resign after details of Huawei's potential involvement in the UK's 5G network were leaked.
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 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.
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". "No specific allegations have ever been brought to my attention."
Mr Williamson does not deny using the language.
Wendy Morton was chief whip during Liz Truss's turbulent and short-lived premiership
A government spokesperson said the Cabinet Office, where Mr Williamson now serves as a minister, 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".
Sir Gavin reportedly sent a series of abusive WhatsApp messages to Ms Morton accusing the government of excluding certain MPs from the Queen's funeral service at Westminster Abbey.
Last month, Ms Morton sent the messages to the Conservative Party after making a formal complaint about Sir Gavin's behaviour.
On Tuesday, she referred Sir Gavin to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. The independent body looks into claims of parliamentarians and staff who feel they have been bullied or harassed.
Complaints process
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the language Sir Gavin used was "not acceptable", but No 10 insisted he still has confidence in him.
In the messages to Ms Morton, published by the Sunday Times, Sir Gavin is said to have warned the former chief whip "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. Asked if it amounted to bullying, Mr Sunak 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 acceptableWatch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptable
Watch: Sunak on Williamson texts - Not right, not acceptableWatch: 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.
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 as Minister without Portfolio.
Sir Gavin's current governmental responsibilities are not clear.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said Sir Gavin's role in government was "very important".
Mr Stride told Times Radio: "I think Gavin is somebody who, as I say, has particular talents and a particular understanding of the parliamentary party."
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," she said.