Williamson faces inquiry over ‘threatening’ texts
SIR GAVIN WILLIAMSON told Liz Truss’s chief whip she would “f--- us all over”, it has emerged as he faces an investigation over “threatening” texts.
The minister without portfolio made the comments to Wendy Morton during a row over the guest list for the late Queen’s funeral.
Sir Gavin, who was reappointed to Rishi Sunak’s top team last month, is the subject of an inquiry by Conservative Central Headquarters (CCHQ) about messages he sent over a number of weeks.
The majority of government tickets for the funeral had been reserved for Cabinet ministers, with the remainder going to a handful of senior MPs.
But in a WhatsApp exchange revealed by The Sunday Times, Sir Gavin said it was “very poor how [parliamentary colleagues] who aren’t favoured have been excluded from the funeral”.
When Ms Morton denied this, he said: “Well [it] certainly looks it, which I think is very s--- and perception becomes reality.”
Ms Morton said the number of tickets was limited, but Sir Gavin wrote: “This shows exactly how you have rigged it... Let’s see how many times you f--- us all over. There is a price for everything.” Sir Jake Berry, the former Tory chairman, said he told Mr Sunak and his incoming chief of staff of the complaint on Oct 24, the day Ms Morton indicated she wished to formally complain and a day before Mr Sunak entered No10.
Further messages, first reported by Tortoise, saw Sir Gavin accuse Ms Morton of a “patronising and condescending tone” on Oct 17 when she asked why he was unlikely to vote in the Commons.
Mr Sunak has already faced criticism for reappointing Sir Gavin and Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary.
Sir Gavin, who was contacted for comment, told The Times he regretted “getting frustrated” and hoped to work “positively” with Ms Morton in future.
A spokesman for CCHQ said: “The Conservative Party has a robust complaints process in place.”