Arise Sir Gavin? Knighthood may follow sack for Williamson

GAVIN WILLIAMSON is being tipped for a knighthood in a move likely to anger some parents, teachers and unions.

The former education secretary is expected to feature in the Prime Minister’s next honours list after being sacked in the reshuffle, according to Whitehall sources.

There are suggestions Boris Johnson may have made the offer to soften the blow of his departure from the Cabinet.

Although Mr Williamson’s sacking had been expected after he faced criticism over his handling of his department during the Covid-19 crisis, Mr Johnson had kept him in post despite numerous calls for his resignation.

The gaffe-prone politician once again hit the headlines last week by confusing England footballer Marcus Rashford with rugby player Maro Itoje.

Ridiculed by the press as a “Private Pike” figure, and likened to hapless Frank Spencer from the TV sitcom Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em by his own Conservative colleagues, Mr Williamson’s days had long been numbered.

Yet until Wednesday, the former chief whip’s reputation as a “master of the dark arts” who “knows where the bodies are buried” appeared to have afforded him some job security.

Mr Johnson is thought to credit the Scarborough-born, tarantula-owning father of two with helping him to win the Tory leadership race in 2019.

Along with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Mr Williamson was behind the whipping operation that saw the former London mayor win the support of two-thirds of Conservative MPS.

After being fired, Mr Williamson tweeted: “It has been a privilege to serve as Education Secretary since 2019. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, I’m particularly proud of the transformational reforms I’ve led in Post 16 education.”

He was later absent from Prime Minister’s Questions. Downing Street has declined to comment.