In this file photo taken on November 10, 2020 Britain鈥檚 Education Secretary Gavin Williamson arrives back in Downing Street in London. Williamson resigned on November 8, 2022, from his position in Britain鈥檚 Government. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
London, United Kingdom聽鈥斅燘ritish minister Gavin Williamson resigned late Tuesday from new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak鈥檚 government following allegations he sent menacing messages to lawmakers and former colleagues.
Williamson came under increasing pressure since the emergence of a series of expletive-laden text messages allegedly sent by him to Tory colleague and former chief whip Wendy Morton.
They said she was seeking to 鈥減unish鈥� MPs out of favor with then-premier Liz Truss by excluding them from Queen Elizabeth II鈥檚 funeral, warning: 鈥淭here is a price for everything.鈥�
On Monday a senior civil servant told The Guardian newspaper Williamson had bullied them and told them to 鈥渟lit your throat鈥�.
鈥淎s you know, there is an ongoing complaints process concerning text messages I sent to a colleague. There have been other allegations made about my past conduct,鈥� Williamson said in his resignation letter.
鈥淚 refute the characterization of these claims, but I recognize these are becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing for the British people.
鈥淚 have therefore decided to step back from government so that I can comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing,鈥� he wrote.
Williamson, 46, was sacked twice as minister in the past by former premiers Boris Johnson and Theresa May.
Sunak meanwhile said he would not be 鈥減assing judgment鈥� until after an 鈥渋ndependent complaints investigation鈥�.
鈥淚 want to see the results of that, obviously, but I鈥檝e been very clear that language is not right, it鈥檚 not acceptable,鈥� British media quoted Sunak as saying.
Downing Street and the Conservative party have launched investigations into the claims.