First scandal, first resignation of Rishi Sunak’s government: On Tuesday, November 8, Gavin Williamson, minister (without portfolio) and close to the new British prime minister, had to resign, just a fortnight after taking office, faced with the accumulation of revelations and accusations against him. He is accused by colleagues, Conservative MPs like him, of threatening them and even harassing them to achieve his goals.
The 46-year-old MP, former education secretary for Boris Johnson, ex-defence secretary and “chief whip” (responsible for the discipline of the parliamentary group) for Theresa May, was known for his political skills but carried a reputation as a champion of the Tory party dirty work. He lent a hand to Rishi Sunak in his first attempt to get into Downing Street this summer – lost to Liz Truss. He helped him again at the end of October to replace Mme Truss, when initially pushed, neutralized Boris Johnson’s bid for a comeback.
But the British media were quick to reveal, shortly after the appointment of Mr. Williamson to the Sunak government, the allegations against him by Wendy Morton, former chief whip of Liz Truss. that Sunday Times in particular, published the threatening messages he had sent to the MP, accusing her of blocking him and other elected officials from entering Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral on September 19 on the grounds that they were not close to Liz Truss.
Other testimonies from elected officials and government officials have emerged highlighting the brutal practices of the former boss. And on Tuesday, Wendy Morton made a formal complaint to the ICGS, the body of the Westminster parliament responsible for investigating misconduct by MPs. Internal vendettas, egos still alive in a party undermined by factions, who is on his fifth prime ministership in six years? In any case, Mr. Williamson’s position becoming untenable.
Doubt the judgment of Rishi Sunak
In his resignation letter, published on Twitter on Tuesday night, the Staffordshire (in the Midlands) MP denied having “harassed” colleagues, but acknowledged that the allegations against him hindered “the correct function” by the government. This departure would be anecdotal if it did not cast doubt on Rishi Sunak’s judgment. In the spring of 2019, Williamson had to give up his post as defense secretary after Theresa May suspected him of leaking information after a national security meeting. He was then a very mediocre minister of education.
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