Sir Gavin Williamson has apologised and agreed to undertake anti-bullying training after using “intemperate” and “inappropriate” language in an exchange with former chief whip Wendy Morton.
In a personal statement made in the Commons, the former education secretary admitted he had used language which “I regret”.
Sir Gavin was ordered by an expert panel to apologise to MPs for bullying Ms Morton after he was not allocated tickets to the late Queen’s funeral.
He told the Commons: “During this exchange I used intemperate and inappropriate language which I regret and I apologised for shortly after.
“My behaviour led to a complaint, the complaint was initially dismissed by the Commissioner for Parliamentary Standards, however this decision was appealed and subsequently reversed by the independent expert panel.
“I accept the decision that my conduct constituted a breach of the bullying and harassment policy, and have since reflected on my behaviour. I reiterate my apology made to the complainant following the breach.”
He added: “I apologise to them again now and I apologise to the House fully and unreservedly. I will do my utmost to ensure this does not happen again.”
Allegations were made against the former education secretary – who had also served as a chief whip – back in November last year after Sir Gavin sent a number of text messages to her, including one that warned her “there is a price for everything”.
The accusations surfaced in the media two weeks after Mr Sunak took the keys to Number 10 after the political downfall of his short-lived predecessor Liz Truss.
Ms Morton, who had served under her as chief whip, told parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) that Sir Gavin had sent her a series of text messages in September after he was not invited to the Queen’s funeral, attributing the perceived snub as being down to him not supporting Ms Truss in the party’s leadership election.
She claimed the messages were “threatening”, “intimidating” and “undermining”.
At the time, Mr Sunak said he had full confidence in Sir Gavin, though he welcomed the ICGS’s investigation into the case.
The IGCS investigator concluded Sir Gavin was in breach of bullying and harassment policy. However, the decision was overturned by the Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg, leading Ms Morton to appeal.
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which handles such cases, today released its own report, upholding her complaint.
It showed phrases from the message from Sir Gavin, including:
• “Don’t forget I know how this works so don’t [push] me about”
• “It’s very clear how you are going to treat a number of us which is very stupid and you are showing **** all interest in pulling things together. Don’t bother asking anything from me”
• “Well let’s see how many more times you **** us all over. There is a price for everything”
• “You are using her death to punish people who are just supportive, absolutely disgusting”
The IEP ruled Sir Gavin should make a personal statement to the House apologising for his actions, as well as undergo training “to avoid a repetition of similar behaviour and increase his awareness of the impact of bullying on others”.
They described the messages as “an abuse of power” and said his conduct had “gone beyond vigorous complaint or political disagreement to a threat to lever his power and authority as a former chief whip to undermine her personally as revenge”.
The IEP said it had “considered carefully” whether he should face suspension from the Commons, but had instead decided a “full and unreserved apology”, along with behaviour training, was required.
The panel also said Sir Gavin had accepted the ruling.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:08
PM regrets giving Williamson a job
Sir Gavin was recommended for a knighthood by Boris Johnson in 2022.
Despite holding a number of roles in government, he is also a controversial figure, having been sacked by Theresa May in 2019 for leaking details of a National Security Council meeting, and again by Mr Johnson as education secretary over the issues with A-levels during COVID.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.
The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.
In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.
“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.
Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.
More from Politics
Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.
She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.
“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”
Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.
Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.
“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.
Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.