Williamson out after bullying allegations

In the past few minutes Gavin Williamson has quit the government after another formal complaint was made about his conduct. In a letter to Rishi Sunak, the former minister without portfolio says the allegations against him – which he denies – were becoming a ‘distraction’ from the work the government was doing. 

His letter, which you can read in full below, says he is stepping back from government so he can ‘comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing’. There have been two formal complaints made public so far. The first was from Wendy Morton, who alleged that Williamson bullied her in expletive-ridden messages about not being invited to the Queen’s funeral. Morton had made a formal complaint to the Conservative party and today referred it to parliament’s independent complaints process as well. The second one was arguably more difficult for Williamson because it came from an official who alleges the minister told them to ‘slit your throat’ and jump out of a window.