Speaking at his third Prime Minister’s Questions, Rishi Sunak faced a grilling from MPs as they questioned his decision to bring Sir Gavin Williamson back into government.
Sir Gavin (pictured) was re-appointed to cabinet as minister without portfolio when Sunak took the top job just two weeks ago. He later resigned amid allegations of bullying.
Sunak told the chamber that Sir Gavin was “absolutely right” to stand down and co-operate with a parliamentary probe following the allegations of “unacceptable” behaviour against him.
However, the PM defended his decision to reappoint Sir Gavin to cabinet, insisting that he “did not know about any of the specific concerns relating to his conduct which date back some years.”
Sir Gavin himself has maintained his innocence and says that he stood down to focus on clearing his name during the parliamentary investigation process.
But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took aim at the prime minister, suggesting that he gave Sir Gavin the job on account of the fact that he’d “spent years courting the idea that he could intimidate others.”
The Labour leader went on to accuse the PM of failing to stand up to a “pathetic” and “run of the mill bully”, asking whether he regretted the decision to reinstate him into government.
Sunak responded that he regretted “appointing someone who has had to resign in these circumstances.”
Sir Keir also questioned Sunak’s integrity in highlighting that he’d thanked Sir Gavin for his loyalty and support when responding to his letter of resignation.
“What message does he think it sends when, rather than take on the bullies, he lines up alongside and thanks them for their loyalty?”, Sir Keir asked MPs.
When the Labour leader further suggested that Sunak’s failure to stand up to Sir Gavin meant that he could not be expected to defend the interests of working people, the PM insisted that the government was focused on delivering on the people’s priorities by strengthening the economy and the NHS, and addressing the issue of illegal migration.
