ITV News’ Harry Horton reports on the allegations against Sir Gavin Williamson Cabinet minister and South Staffordshire MP Sir Gavin Williamson is facing an investigation into a series of abusive and threatening messages allegedly sent to the then Tory leader, complaining he had been excluded from the Queen’s funeral. Sir Gavin, who was a backbencher at the time, accused Wendy Morton of using the monarch’s death to “punish” senior MPs who were out of favor with Liz Truss’s government. The exchange of messages, obtained by the Sunday Times, ended with him saying: ‘Well, let’s see how many times he’s going to **** us all over the place. There is a price for everything.” The newspaper reported that then party chairman Sir Jake Berry informed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak the day before he entered No 10 that Ms Morton had made a formal complaint to the party about Sir Gavin’s behaviour. Cabinet Secretary Oliver Dowden said on Sunday that Sir Gavin regretted sending the messages to Ms Morton at a “difficult time” for the Conservative Party after Ms Truss was elected leader. “These were sent in the spirit of expressing disappointment. It was a difficult time for the party. Now he accepts he shouldn’t have done it and he regrets doing it,” Mr Dowden said. “Thankfully we are in a better place now as a party.” “No sign Sir Gavin Williamson is going to be sacked, but questions sure for PM this week” Both Sir Jake and Ms Morton lost their jobs in a recent reshuffle, while Sir Gavin – a former chief whip and supporter of Mr Sunak – has returned to government. In the messages, Sir Gavin complained that it was “very poor” that privy councilors – senior politicians who officially advise the monarch – who are “out of favour” have been barred from the funeral at Westminster Abbey. Ms Morton repeatedly insisted his claims were unfounded and the government had received an “extremely limited” number of tickets, most of which went to cabinet members. Mr Williamson, minister of state without portfolio, replied: “It certainly seems that the thinking is very good and the perception is becoming a reality. Also, don’t forget that I know how this works, so don’t pressure me. “It’s very clear how you’re going to treat some of us, which is very stupid and you show all your interest in mixing things up. “Also this shows exactly how you have set it up it’s (sic) disgusting that you use her death to punish people who are just being supportive, absolutely disgusting.” “Well, let’s see how many times he’ll **** us all over the place. There is a price for everything.” Gavin Williamson (left) attends a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Credit: PA Sir Jake told the paper he was told by the Conservative Party chief executive on October 24 that a complaint had been made against Sir Gavin over allegations of “intimidation and bullying of parliamentary colleagues”. “According to protocol, in my capacity as party chairman, I informed both the new prime minister and his incoming chief of staff of the resignation on the same day,” he said. According to The Sunday Times, Mr Sunak did not remember the “specifics” of their conversation. Sir Gavin was made a privy councilor and knighted by Boris Johnson when he was prime minister earlier this year. However, many Tory MPs regard him with suspicion because of his reputation as a conspirator. He was sacked first by Theresa May as defense secretary for leaking details of a national security council meeting and then by Mr Johnson as education secretary over the A-level Covid-19 debacle. Deputy Labor leader Angela Rayner said Mr Sunack’s decision to bring Sir Gavin back into government called his judgment into question. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know “Gavin Williamson has been sacked from cabinet twice, yet despite the risk to national security, he is back at the heart of government,” he said. “Rishi Sunak’s promise to restore integrity, professionalism and accountability has been exposed as nothing more than empty words. Far from stopping the rot in Downing Street, it is letting it fester.’ A Conservative Party spokesman: “The Conservative Party has a robust complaints process in place. This process is rightfully confidential so that complainants can come forward in confidence.” Sir Gavin told the Sunday Times: “Of course I regret being disappointed in the way colleagues and I felt we were treated. “I am delighted to be speaking with Wendy and hope to work positively with her in the future as I have done in the past.”
