Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Rishi Sunak news - live: PM under fire from ex-ministers on Williamson bullying claim

PA Wire
Shapps says Williamson 'not right' to send allegedly abusive texts to former chief whip

Rishi Sunak still retains full confidence in Sir Gavin Williamson, following emergence of abusive texts, Downing Street has said.

Meanwhile, leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer suggested he feels that Sir Gavin is “clearly not suitable” for the job, following news that he allegedly bullied former chief whip Wendy Morton.

Sir Keir went on to call his appointment a sign of how “weak” Mr Sunak is.

Elsewhere, Grant Shapps has said he finds the angry messages sent by Sir Gavin to be “completely inappropriate.”

Speaking to LBC, the business secretary said: “It’s completely inappropriate to send messages like that under any circumstances, frustration or otherwise. It’s absolutely right that’s been looked into, there is a process underway”.

Sir Gavin has been accused of bullying former chief whip Wendy Morton, after he angrily claimed she was seeking to “punish” MPs like him who were out of favour with Liz Truss by excluding them from the Queen’s funeral.

The exchange of texts, described by Mr Sunak as “not acceptable or right”, concluded with Sir Gavin saying: “Well let’s see how many more times you f*** us all over. There is a price for everything.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.