An the face of massive allegations of bullying, British Minister Gavin Williamson has resigned. The minister of state without portfolio submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday. It was the first resignation in Sunak’s cabinet, which the prime minister presented two weeks ago.
Williamson is accused of sending threatening and otherwise inappropriate messages to MPs and former colleagues. In particular, former Tory Parliamentary Secretary Wendy Morton is said to have received a string of such messages. Williamson accused her of wanting to “punish” MPs; then he threatened: “Everything has its price.”
In his resignation letter, Williamson referred to the various allegations against him that are now being investigated. He rejects the “characterization” of his actions that was made, but recognizes that this could affect the work of the government.
Williamson, 46, has also held ministerial positions in the governments of Theresa May and Boris Johnson, but was fired by both prime ministers. Sunak said of Williamson’s resignation that he would wait for independent investigative results before passing judgment on the case.
Sunak took office as prime minister on October 25. He succeeds the hapless Liz Truss, who had to resign after just a month and a half in office because of poor fiscal policy.
