Sir Jake Berry says he informed the incoming prime minister of the allegations a day before he entered Number 10. Politics Hub: “What a waste of space” – minister tussled on the street It is alleged that Sir Gavin sent abusive text messages to former leader Wendy Morton complaining that he and other colleagues had been excluded from the Queen’s funeral for political reasons. Footage leaked to The Sunday Times appears to show abusive messages from the South Staffordshire MP, including a warning that “there’s a price for everything”. Another message says “think very poorly how [Privy Councillors] who are not favored have been excluded from the funeral.” A source confirmed to Sky News that the content of the messages was accurate. In a statement, former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry said: “On Monday 24 October I was informed, by the chief executive of the Conservative Party, that a complaint had been made to the Conservative Party against Gavin Williamson regarding allegations of bullying. and bullying parliamentary colleagues. “According to protocol, in my capacity as party chairman, I informed both the new prime minister and his incoming chief of staff of the resignation on the same day.” Sir Gavin has been approached for comment. The Sunday Times quoted the Cabinet minister as saying: “Of course I’m sorry to be disappointed in the way colleagues treated us and I felt. I’m delighted to have spoken to Wendy and look forward to working positively with her in the future as well as I had in the past.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:40 Rebuild: Who’s in, who’s out? Sir Gavin faces calls to sack a third cabinet Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper accused Sunack of ignoring the complaint and called for Sir Gavin’s sacking. Deputy Labor leader Angela Rayner said: “Rishi Sunak’s promise to restore integrity, professionalism and accountability has been exposed as nothing more than empty words. Far from stopping the rot in Downing Street, he is letting it fester. “ Downing Street said it would not comment. A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party has a robust whistleblowing process in place. This process is rightfully confidential, so whistleblowers can come forward in confidence.” Sir Gavin was sacked as Defense Secretary in 2019 following the leak of confidential information from the National Security Council. After being appointed education secretary by Boris Johnson, he was sacked again from the cabinet in 2021 following controversy surrounding exam grading during the pandemic. It marks the second major row to erupt over Mr Sunak’s cabinet appointments, with the prime minister already under fire for making Suella Braverman his home secretary days after she was sacked over security breaches.
