Williamson’s texts were unacceptable, says minister

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06th Nov, 2022. 10:40 pm
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Sir Gavin Williamson sent abusive texts to former chief whip Wendy Morton, it has emerged.
Oliver Dowden said the texts were sent “in the heat of the moment”.

Mr. Dowden added that the prime minister was not aware of them before appointing him a Cabinet Office minister.

Sir Gavin Williamson’s expletive-laden text messages to a colleague were “not acceptable”, a key ally of the prime minister has said.

Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden said Sir Gavin sent texts to ex-chief whip Wendy Morton “in the heat of the moment”.

Prior to appointing Sir Gavin to the cabinet, Mr. Dowden said the prime minister was aware of the accusation against him but had not read the texts.

The Liberal Democrats have demanded the dismissal of Mr. Williamson.

According to messages allegedly made by Sir Gavin to Ms. Morton and published by The Sunday Times, he accused her of keeping some MPs from the Queen’s burial.

Wendy Morton, a former chief whip, claimed that last month she voiced her concerns about abusive texts sent by Sir Gavin.

Sir Jake Berry, a former leader of the Conservative Party, claimed to have informed the prime minister of her complaint.

Sir Jake, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, claims that on October 24, he informed Mr. Sunak about the complaint charging Sir Gavin of “bullying and intimidation.”

On October 25, Mr. Sunak replaced Liz Truss as prime minister, and he named Sir Gavin a minister of state in the Cabinet Office.

When deciding to reinstate Sir Gavin as a minister, the prime minister was not aware of the specifics of the texts, according to Mr. Dowden.

Ms. Morton claims that after complaining about Sir Gavin’s behavior to her party headquarters last month, no action has yet been taken.

Prior to the Queen’s funeral in September, Sir Gavin is said to have sent her the texts.

He seems to have expressed dissatisfaction in them at Ms. Truss’s exclusion of MPs who weren’t “favored” from the service at Westminster Abbey.

He claimed that Ms. Morton “rigged” the allotment of tickets to punish persons, like himself, who did not support the then-prime minister enough.

Sir Gavin reportedly warned Ms. Morton “not to push him about” and that “there is a price for everything”.

Mr. Dowden told the media that the messages were sent “in the heat of the moment at a very difficult time”.

Sir Gavin was “frustrated” at the then government, but accepts that he “shouldn’t have sent them and he regrets it” Mr. Dowden said.

He added that it was “no secret” that Sir Gavin and other backbench MPs did not enjoy “a good relationship” with Ms. Morton.

Mr. Dowden said Mr. Sunak had “full confidence in Mr. Williamson as a minister”.

But he would not comment on whether Sir Gavin will face punishment over the messages, which he said were subject to a complaints process.

Williamson’s texts were unacceptable, says minister

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