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Knives out for Gavin in text controversy

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Ah Gavin Williamson – the man with more lives than Larry the Cat. Having been sacked as Defence Secretary for alleged leaking in 2019, then sacked again as Education Secretary for poor performance in 2021, Williamson is now facing his third dismissal in three years following fresh claims about his conduct. On Friday it emerged that the former Chief Whip had sent expletive-laden texts to his successor Wendy Morton concerning unfounded claims that she had excluded him from attending the Queen’s funeral at Westminster. Tortoise reported that a formal complaint had been made about Williamson’s behaviour; a story that was followed up two days later in the Sunday Times which published those texts in full.

Now this morning’s Times claims that Williamson separately made a ‘tacit threat’ to an MP who is now a minister over her ‘private life’ while a second MP has given CCHQ evidence of Williamson’s conduct towards her.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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