A POLITICAL comeback by Kinver’s MP Sir Gavin Williamson has collapsed like a house of cards after allegations of bullying colleagues prompted his resignation from his cabinet post after just 14 days.
Sir Gavin announced last night (Tuesday) that he was quitting his cabinet minister without portfolio role after days of headlines about his conduct towards the former chief whip and a civil servant.
The South Staffordshire Conservative MP, who was formerly Education Secretary and before that Defence Minister before being sacked from both Government roles, had been appointed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s administration after being a key supporter in his leadership campaign in the summer.
However, calls for him to go began a few days ago after the emergence of a series of expletive laden texts sent by Sir Gavin to Liz Truss’s former chief whip Wendy Morton expressing disappointment about not being invited to the Queen’s funeral.
It was reported on Monday that the Prime Minister retained full confidence in him, however, with the PM’s spokesperson saying Mr Sunak “obviously thinks he has an important contribution to make to Government”.
But on Tuesday evening, after more allegations surfaced about Sir Gavin’s conduct during his time at the Ministry of Defence and when he was chief whip, the Tory MP confirmed he was returning to the back benches.
In his resignation letter, he said he was complying with the complaints process relating to the texts sent to Ms Morton and that he had apologised and he added: "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.
"I have therefore decided to step back from Government so that I can comply fully with the complaints process that is under way and clear my name of any wrongdoing.
"It is with real sadness that I tender my resignation, but I want to take this opportunity to offer my full and total support from the back benches.”
And he later said on Twitter he would not be taking any severance pay, adding: “This is taxpayers’ money and it should go instead toward the Government‘s priorities like reducing the NHS’s waiting lists.”
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan later said Sir Gavin did "the right thing" by resigning and she told Sky News he had “only ever been supportive” to her.
Speaking on Times Radio she added that “it’s always sad when a colleague resigns” and she said: “It does have an impact on them personally, it has an impact on their family.
"So, you know, nobody takes glee out of these situations at all.
"But it happens quite a lot in politics actually."
On Tuesday night, former deputy chief whip Anne Milton alleged Sir Gavin used "unethical and immoral" tactics while he was chief whip in 2016-17 and she told Channel 4: "I think he feels that he's Francis Urquhart from House of Cards."
Sir Gavin previously told the News when he first landed the key role in Theresa May’s Government that he absolutely wouldn’t be trying to emulate the ruthless fictional politician but he confessed he was a “great fan” of actor Kevin Spacey, who played ‘Frank’ in Netflix’s remake of House of Cards, and of author Michael Dobbs whose books inspired the TV shows.
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