Mocking diabetes? It’s a smear by No 10, claims axed minister
GAVIN Williamson yesterday accused Theresa May of launching a smear campaign to distract from the lack of evidence that he deserved to be fired.
As relations between the pair soured further still, Mr Williamson called on Mrs May to ‘show a little more dignity’ after it was claimed he made derogatory comments about her diabetes.
The former defence secretary was sacked last Wednesday over his alleged responsibility for leaking sensitive information about Chinese tech firm Huawei.
Amid the fallout, a number of newspapers reported the Prime Minister and Mr Williamson’s relationship had deteriorated after he spread false claims that Mrs May was not well enough to govern. The Prime Minister has type 1 diabetes, and wears a patch to help manage the
‘Act in haste, repent at leisure’
condition. Mr Williamson was also said to have clashed with the Prime Minister over his desire to have British troops engage in military action in Africa.
But yesterday he accused Mrs May’s team of concocting the claims to distract from the fact that there is no evidence to show he was behind the Huawei leak. He told the Daily Mail: ‘ They [Downing Street] realise the hot water they are in because they have got no evidence for why I have been sacked.
‘ They have decided that because they have no evidence they are going to try to smear me and my character.
‘It is disappointing that they cannot show a little more dignity, understand the important positions they hold, and act in a sensible, responsible and slightly more dignified way that is befitting the positions they do hold.’ He added: ‘ A lot of what has been said has been personally very hurtful and totally untrue. It has become apparent to everyone that the Prime Minister and [Cabinet Secretary] Sir Mark Sedwill had no evidence.
‘Now is the time for them to instigate a proper, full and detailed independent inquiry to get at the truth.’
Mr Williamson is understood to be considering a bid to force the Prime Minister to launch such a probe by tabling a motion in Parliament. This could succeed if backed by some Tory MPs, along with opposition parties.
However, Mr Williamson has told allies he will not follow Geoffrey Howe’s example by savaging Mrs May in the Commons.
Lord Howe’s infamous resignation speech in November 1990 was seen as one of the major catalysts for Margaret Thatcher’s departure days later. Despite rumours he would make a similar speech, Mr Williamson has told friends he is keen not to ‘act in haste, repent at leisure’.
His sacking came after Sir Mark led an investigation into who leaked details of a key National Security Council meeting. Following talks with senior intelligence officials, Mrs May reportedly approved Huawei’s bid to help build the new 5G mobile network – only for details of the sensitive meeting to leak.
After Mr Williamson was fired, Lib Dem deputy leader Jo Swinson called on police to investigate whether he had breached the Official Secrets Act – an offence that carries a two-year jail term.
However, the Metropolitan Police’s Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said at the weekend he was ‘satisfied’ that the details disclosed to the media did not ‘contain information that would breach the ... Act’.
Downing Street last night denied that it was behind the briefings against Mr Williamson.