UK MP Sir Gavin Williamson has resigned following allegations of ‘shocking’, ‘threatening’ and ‘intimidating’ behaviour made by a former government colleague.
The former Cabinet Office minister said he had decided to ‘step back from Government’ while the complaints process into his conduct is carried out, vowing to ‘clear my name of any wrongdoing’.
The resignation comes after allegations he sent expletive-laden messages to UK former chief whip, Wendy Morton, complaining about being refused an invitation to the Queen’s funeral, claims he told a senior civil servant to ‘slit your throat’ and on another occasion to ‘jump out of the window’, and an accusation of ‘unethical and immoral’ behaviour while he was chief whip.
Sir Gavin said there was an ongoing complaints process ‘concerning text messages I sent to a colleague’ – a reference to Ms Morton’s complaint.
‘I am complying with this process and I have apologised to the recipient for those messages,’ he said.
‘Since then, there have been other allegations made about my past conduct. I refute the characterisation of these claims, but I recognise these are becoming a distraction for the good work this Government is doing for the British people.
‘I have therefore decided to step back from Government so that I can comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing.’
Following a meeting with the Prime Minister on Tuesday evening, November 8, Sunak resigned.
In his response, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was accepting the resignation ‘with great sadness’, but ‘I support your decision to step back and understand why you have done it’.
He told Sir Gavin ‘I would like to thank you for your personal support and loyalty’ and expressed his ‘gratitude for the work you have done for this government’.
