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Tag: Sir Gavin Williamson

  • Schools close during Covid, because instructors “detest work – Education Secretary

    Schools close during Covid, because instructors “detest work – Education Secretary

    In the most recent batch of Matt Hancock’s hacked communications, Sir Gavin Williamson, a former education secretary, said that some schools wanted to close during the Covid pandemic so staff would have a “excuse” not to work.

    In May 2020, when teachers and ministers prepared for the start of regular classes again following the first national lockdown, they communicated via WhatsApp.

    According to messages obtained by the Daily Telegraph, Sir Gavin requested assistance from Mr. Hancock in procuring PPE for schools. He also stated: “Some will just want to say they can’t [open] so they have an excuse to avoid having to teach, what delights!!!”

    Those comments contrast with public statements at the time thanking teachers for their ‘outstanding work’ and praising them for ‘going above and beyond the call of duty’.

    Months later, Mr Hancock messaged Sir Gavin congratulating him on getting A-level exams delayed for a few weeks, writing: ‘Cracking announcement today. What a bunch of absolute arses the teaching unions are.’

    Sir Gavin responded: ‘I know they really really do just hate work.’

    The then-Health Secretary replied with two laughing emojis alongside a bullseye.

    Schools minister defends govt after leaked WhatsApps insinuate teachers are lazy

    Matt Hancock has come under fire after a trove of more than 100,000 WhatsApps linked to his time as health secretary were handed to the Daily Telegraph
    Mr Hancock has said the ‘partial accounts’ have been ‘obviously spun with an agenda’ (Picture: PA)
    Sir Gavin Williamson arrives for a cabinet meeting at Downing Street
    Sir Gavin tweeted that his comments had been ‘about some unions and not teachers’ (Picture: Getty)

    Following their publication by The Telegraph, the former education secretary tweeted that his comments had been ‘about some unions and not teachers’.

    He added: ‘I have the utmost respect for teachers who work tirelessly to support students.’

    The tranche of more than 100,000 WhatsAapp messages was passed to the paper by the journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who was given the material by Mr Hancock when they were working together on a book about his time in government during the pandemic.

    In a statement, Matt Hancock said he is ‘hugely disappointed and sad at the massive betrayal and breach of trust’ by Ms Oakeshott.

    He added of the leaked messages: ‘As we have seen, releasing them in this way gives a partial, biased account to suit an anti-lockdown agenda.’

    The statement went on: ‘Last night, I was accused of sending menacing messages to Isabel. This is also wrong. When I heard confused rumours of a publication late on Tuesday night, I called and messaged Isabel to ask her if she had “any clues” about it, and got no response.

    ‘When I then saw what she’d done, I messaged to say it was “a big mistake”. Nothing more.

    ‘I will not be commenting further on any other stories or false allegations that Isabel will make. I will respond to the substance in the appropriate place, at the inquiry, so that we can properly learn all the lessons based on a full and objective understanding of what happened in the pandemic, and why.’

    Earlier, Ms Oakeshott confirmed that she had broken an non-disclosure agreement with Mr Hancock – although she argued that her action was overwhelmingly in the ‘public interest’.

    She acknowledged however that he was not happy at what she had done.

    ‘I received a somewhat menacing message from him at 1.20 in the morning,’ she told TalkTV’s Piers Morgan Uncensored.

    ‘I think he is extremely troubled about how to respond to this, but this is not about him.’

    The former health secretary is ‘considering all options’ in response to the leak, with a source close to him saying: ‘She’s (Ms Oakeshott) broken a legal NDA (non-disclosure agreement). Her behaviour is outrageous.’

  • Dominic Raab is being investigated due to allegations of violent behavior

    Opposition parties have called for an investigation into cabinet minister Dominic Raab’s behaviour following allegations that he abused personnel during his former tenure as Justice Secretary.

    The Guardian stated that after his reappointment by Rishi Sunak, civil servants in his office were provided with a “route out.”

    The paper was told Mr Raab acted in a “rude” and “aggressive” manner between September 2021 and September 2022.

    His spokesman said he “always acts with the utmost professionalism”.

    The Guardian said it had spoken to multiple sources who claimed Mr Raab had created a “culture of fear” at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and who alleged his behaviour with civil servants had been “demeaning” and “very rude and aggressive”.

    The paper claimed several sources told it that about 15 members of staff from Mr Raab’s private office were taken into a room where MoJ officials acknowledged they may be anxious about his return and gave them the option of moving roles.

    It added it had been told that Antonia Romeo, the most senior civil servant in the MoJ, had spoken to Mr Raab on his return to the department to warn him that he must treat staff professionally and with respect.

    No formal complaints have been made against the cabinet minister.

    Labour has described the allegations as “deeply troubling” and has called for them to be investigated “urgently and independently”.

    The party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must “come clean” about whether he knew about the claims when he reappointed Mr Raab to the MoJ, and said it raised questions about the PM’s judgement.

    Ms Rayner said: “He claimed zero tolerance for bullying, promised a government of integrity and pledged to urgently appoint an ethics adviser, yet is falling far short on every promise.

    “Rishi Sunak is already showing he is not just failing to stop the rot but letting it fester.”

    Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the Tory government did not have “a shred of integrity left”.

    “These latest reports are deeply disturbing and must be investigated immediately by the Cabinet Office,” she said.

    Mr Raab, who was also previously deputy prime minister, was removed from his post by Liz Truss when she became prime minister in September.

    But he was re-instated as deputy prime minister and justice secretary by Mr Sunak in October.

    ‘Zero tolerance of bullying’

    A source close to Dominic Raab did not deny the option of a transfer was given to staff on his return, but pushed back against any suggestion of bullying.

    They said Mr Rabb could be direct with staff and had high standards, but stressed there had not been a significant turnover of employees.

    A spokesman for Mr Raab said: “Dominic has high standards, works hard, and expects a lot from his team as well as himself.

    “He has worked well with officials to drive the government’s agenda across Whitehall in multiple government departments and always acts with the utmost professionalism.”

    A MoJ spokeswoman said: “There is zero tolerance for bullying across the civil service.

    “The deputy prime minister leads a professional department, driving forward major reforms, where civil servants are valued and the level of ambition is high.”

    It comes after cabinet minister Sir Gavin Williamson resigned this week over allegations of bullying.

    He is accused of sending abusive messages to a fellow Tory MP last month and of bullying a senior civil servant as defence secretary.

    Sir Gavin said he “refuted” how his conduct had been characterized.

  • Gavin Williamson denies new allegations of bullying

    Sir Gavin Williamson has denied new allegations of bullying after an official made a claim.

    When Sir Gavin was defence secretary, he allegedly told a senior civil servant to “slit your throat” and “jump out the window.”

    Sir Gavin is also being investigated by Parliament’s bullying watchdog for sending expletive-laden messages to former chief whip Wendy Morton.

    He has “strongly” rejected allegations of bullying.

    An unnamed official told the Guardian Sir Gavin, who is now a Cabinet Office minister in Rishi Sunak’s government, “deliberately demeaned and intimidated” them.

    The official said they raised concerns to the Ministry of Defence’s human resources department but made no formal complaint.

    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.

    “No specific allegations have ever been brought to my attention.”

    Mr Williamson does not deny using the language.

    Wendy Morton
    IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS Image caption, Wendy Morton was chief whip during Liz Truss’s turbulent and short-lived premiership

    A government spokesperson said the Cabinet Office, where Mr Williamson now serves as a minister, had “not received notice of any formal complaints about Gavin Williamson’s behaviour from his time at the Ministry of Defence or any other department.”

    Labour’s party chair Anneliese Dodds said the allegations were “extremely serious” adding they “speak to the toxic culture at the top of the Conservative Party”.

    Sir Gavin reportedly sent a series of abusive WhatsApp messages to Ms Morton accusing the government of excluding certain MPs from the Queen’s funeral service at Westminster Abbey.

    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. The independent body looks into claims of parliamentarians and staff who feel they have been bullied or harassed.

    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.

    He was rewarded with a ministerial job and a seat around the cabinet table. It’s not completely clear yet what that job involves, but 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.

    But Sir Gavin has many critics who dislike his style and think his influence is exaggerated.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the language Sir Gavin used was “not acceptable”, but No 10 insisted he still has confidence in him.

    In the messages to Ms Morton, published by the Sunday Times, Sir Gavin is said to have warned the former chief whip “not to push him about” and that “there is a price for everything”.

    Sir Gavin told the paper: “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”.

    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.

    Mr Sunak, who replaced Liz Truss as prime minister last month, brought Sir Gavin back into government as Minister without Portfolio.

    Sir Gavin’s current governmental responsibilities are not clear.

    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.”

    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.

  • Number 10: Rishi Sunak has ‘full confidence’ in Sir Gavin Williamson – despite bullying allegation

    Screenshots acquired by The Sunday Times appear to show Sir Gavin Williamson sending expletive-laden messages, including a warning that “there is a price for everything.”

    Downing Street has stated that Rishi Sunak has “full confidence” in Sir Gavin Williamson, despite the Cabinet Office minister being accused of bullying.

    Sir Gavin allegedly sent abusive text messages to ex-chief whip Wendy Morton, complaining about being barred from attending the Queen’s funeral for political reasons.

    However, Sir Gavin “expressed regret” about the messages sent to his colleague, according to the prime minister’s official spokesman.

    He went on to say that the PM has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying within government.

    “I think the prime minister has said that it’s right to let that process happen and he welcomes that Gavin Williamson has expressed regret about those comments, which as you say he doesn’t think are acceptable.”

    The spokesman added that Mr Sunak believes Sir Gavin has an “important contribution” to make to government.

    Mr Sunak is under pressure over bringing Sir Gavin back into the government.

    The PM’s official spokesman said at the time Mr Sunak “knew there was a disagreement”, but was not aware of the “substance” of the messages.

    Clarifying this on Sunday, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that the PM knew there was a “difficult relationship” between Sir Gavin and the-then chief whip, but “wasn’t aware” of “specific allegations” until Saturday evening.

    Williamson ‘shouldn’t have sent’ texts

    Mr Dowden added that Sir Gavin “regrets the language he used” and also suggested that a number of individuals had “a difficult relationship” with Ms Morton.

    “These were sent in the heat of the moment expressing frustration. It was a difficult time for the party. He now accepts that he shouldn’t have done it and he regrets doing so. Thankfully, we are in a better place now as a party,” he said.

    But Labour has called for an “urgent independent investigation” into the appointment of Sir Gavin, with shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband warning against a “cover-up” over the allegations.

    Speaking on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme, Mr Miliband said the matter “really calls into question Rishi Sunak’s judgement and the way he made decisions about his cabinet”, adding Sir Gavin’s reappointment was “not in the public interest”.

    “There needs to be an urgent independent investigation into exactly what happened. We can’t have a cover-up, we can’t have a whitewash here,” he said.

    “What did Rishi Sunak know? When did he know it? What did Gavin Williamson do and what are the implications of that?”

    While Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Sir Gavin is “clearly not suitable” for the job, calling his appointment a sign of how “weak” Rishi Sunak is.

     

    “I think that the prime minister has got people who are clearly not fit for the job around the cabinet table,” he told reporters.

    Screenshots leaked to The Sunday Times appear to show expletive-laden messages from the South Staffordshire MP, including a warning that “there is a price for everything”.

    Another message reads “think very poor how [Privy Councillors] who aren’t favoured have been excluded from the funeral”.

    A source confirmed to Sky News that the contents of the messages were accurate.

    Former chairman of the Conservative Party, Sir Jake Berry, has said he told Mr Sunak a bullying complaint had been made against Sir Gavin a day before he entered Number 10.

    Sir Gavin has been approached for comment.

    The Sunday Times quoted the Cabinet Office minister as saying: “I of course regret getting frustrated about the way colleagues and I felt we were being treated. I am happy to speak with Wendy and I hope to work positively with her in the future as I have in the past.”

    Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper accused Mr Sunak of ignoring the complaint and called for Sir Gavin to be sacked.

    But former environment secretary George Eustice described the matter as “a storm in a teacup”.

    “I think Gavin’s apologised for this, he accepts it’s wrong to use that kind of language but equally he was very frustrated and I’m not quite sure why the chief whip referred this up the party instead of trying to resolve it between the two of them,” he told Sky News.

    Mr Eustice continued: “It was wrong, he shouldn’t have used that sort of language – and the chief whip probably should have been talking to him instead of texting him – but it is a storm in a teacup in the context of the great challenges we face”.

    At the weekend, a Tory party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party has a robust complaints process in place. This process is rightly a confidential one, so that complainants can come forward in confidence.”

    Sir Gavin was sacked as defence secretary in 2019 following the leaking of confidential information from the National Security Council.

    After being appointed education secretary by Boris Johnson, he was dismissed from cabinet again in 2021 following controversy around the grading of exams during the pandemic.

    It marks the second major controversy to erupt over Mr Sunak’s cabinet appointments, with the PM already under fire for making Suella Braverman his home secretary days after she was sacked for security breaches.