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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sir Gavin Williamson reported to bullying watchdog | Sir Gavin Williamson reported to bullying watchdog |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Downing street has launched an informal investigation into Sir Gavin's comments | |
| Sir Gavin Williamson has been reported to Parliament's bullying watchdog over abusive messages to a colleague. | Sir Gavin Williamson has been reported to Parliament's bullying watchdog over abusive messages to a colleague. |
| Leaked messages appear to show Sir Gavin using threatening language to ex-chief whip Wendy Morton. | |
| Separately, a senior civil servant told the Guardian Sir Gavin told him to "slit your throat". | |
| Downing Street says it is looking into Sir Gavin's comments and could take action. He has "strongly" rejected allegations of bullying. | |
| A series of messages sent by Sir Gavin to Ms Morton were published on Sunday. | A series of messages sent by Sir Gavin to Ms Morton were published on Sunday. |
| In them, he appears to complain MPs who were not "favoured" by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss were being excluded from the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. | In them, he appears to complain MPs who were not "favoured" by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss were being excluded from the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. |
| He accused Ms Morton of "rigging" the ticket allocation to punish people - including himself - who were not supportive enough of Ms Truss. | He accused Ms Morton of "rigging" the ticket allocation to punish people - including himself - who were not supportive enough of Ms Truss. |
| Sir Gavin reportedly warned Ms Morton "not to push him about" and that "there is a price for everything". | Sir Gavin reportedly warned Ms Morton "not to push him about" and that "there is a price for everything". |
| Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the language Sir Gavin used was "not acceptable", but No 10 insisted he still has full confidence in him. | Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the language Sir Gavin used was "not acceptable", but No 10 insisted he still has full confidence in him. |
| Gavin Williamson texts unacceptable, PM says | Gavin Williamson texts unacceptable, PM says |
| Williamson denies fresh bullying allegations | Williamson denies fresh bullying allegations |
| Who is Sir Gavin Williamson? | Who is Sir Gavin Williamson? |
| Last month, Ms Morton sent the messages to the Conservative Party after making a formal complaint about Sir Gavin's behaviour. | 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 (ICGS). | On Tuesday, she referred Sir Gavin to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS). |
| The independent body looks into claims of parliamentarians and staff who feel they have been bullied or harassed. | The independent body looks into claims of parliamentarians and staff who feel they have been bullied or harassed. |
| Last year, investigations by the ICGS took 216 days on average to complete. | Last year, investigations by the ICGS took 216 days on average to complete. |
| Under the process, complaints are initially assessed by an external investigator. A decision is then made on whether to move to a full investigation. | Under the process, complaints are initially assessed by an external investigator. A decision is then made on whether to move to a full investigation. |
| Downing street is undertaking an informal investigation into the comments, as well. | |
| The Prime Minister's spokesman said the investigation may act before either of the existing processes are complete. | |
| Wendy Morton was chief whip during Liz Truss's turbulent and short-lived premiership | Wendy Morton was chief whip during Liz Truss's turbulent and short-lived premiership |
| Sir Gavin told the Sunday Times: "I of course regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated." | Sir Gavin told the Sunday Times: "I of course regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated." |
| 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, Mr Sunak said "an independent complaints process" was under way and it would be "right to let that process conclude". |
| Chair of the Labour Party Anneliese Dodds said Ms Morton's decision to report Sir Gavin to the ICGS shows a "lack of faith in the Conservative Party complaints process". | Chair of the Labour Party Anneliese Dodds said Ms Morton's decision to report Sir Gavin to the ICGS shows a "lack of faith in the Conservative Party complaints process". |
| "The buck stops with Rishi Sunak," she said. | "The buck stops with Rishi Sunak," she said. |
| "He was warned about Gavin Williamson's behaviour and appointed him anyway." | "He was warned about Gavin Williamson's behaviour and appointed him anyway." |
| 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 |
| Sir Gavin was brought back into government by Mr Sunak, after helping run the prime minister's leadership campaign. | Sir Gavin was brought back into government by Mr Sunak, after helping run the prime minister's leadership campaign. |
| 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. |
| Sir Gavin was appointed minister without portfolio on the first day of Mr Sunak's premiership. Among his responsibilities are tackling overseas conflict and improving the government's communications. | |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said Sir Gavin's role in government was "very important". | 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." | 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," she said. | "If the prime minister was serious about restoring integrity he would sack Gavin Williamson," she said. |
| Defence allegations | Defence allegations |
| An unnamed official told the Guardian Sir Gavin told him to "slit your throat" and "jump out of the window" when he was defence secretary. | An unnamed official told the Guardian Sir Gavin told him to "slit your throat" and "jump out of the window" when he was defence secretary. |
| The official said they raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence's human resources department but made no formal complaint. | The official said they raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence's human resources department but made no formal complaint. |
| The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the allegations are "serious" but he said he wanted to "consider proper processes before commenting further". | The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the allegations are "serious" but he said he wanted to "consider proper processes before commenting further". |
| Mr Stride told Sky News it would be "utterly, utterly unacceptable" if Sir Gavin did make the comment. | Mr Stride told Sky News it would be "utterly, utterly unacceptable" if Sir Gavin did make the comment. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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." | "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. |
| The Liberal Democrats are demanding an independent Cabinet Office inquiry into Sir Gavin's remarks. | The Liberal Democrats are demanding an independent Cabinet Office inquiry into Sir Gavin's remarks. |
| "Anything less would be an abdication of leadership from Number 10, and make a mockery of Sunak's promise to govern with integrity," Lib Dem spokesperson Christine Jardine said. | "Anything less would be an abdication of leadership from Number 10, and make a mockery of Sunak's promise to govern with integrity," Lib Dem spokesperson Christine Jardine said. |
| Gavin Williamson is not a universally popular figure. That's being polite. Some of his colleagues don't have much time for him at all. | Gavin Williamson is not a universally popular figure. That's being polite. Some of his colleagues don't have much time for him at all. |
| But he has been a key ally of Rishi Sunak in recent months as the prime minister fought his way into Downing Street. | But he has been a key ally of Rishi Sunak in recent months as the prime minister fought his way into Downing Street. |
| He was rewarded with a ministerial job and a seat around the cabinet table. And he's based in the Cabinet Office with another key Sunak ally, Oliver Dowden. | |
| Mr Sunak appears to be trying to ride this one out at the moment, waiting to see what happens with a complaint made by Wendy Morton. | Mr Sunak appears to be trying to ride this one out at the moment, waiting to see what happens with a complaint made by Wendy Morton. |
| But Sir Gavin has many critics who dislike his style and think his influence is exaggerated. | But Sir Gavin has many critics who dislike his style and think his influence is exaggerated. |