Sunak faces challenge as PM braces for fresh questions on Williamson

Gavin Williamson resigns from Cabinet

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is preparing to go head to head against Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today after the resignation of one of his Cabinet ministers last night. The leader of the opposition is expected to grill Mr Sunak over when he learned the full details of the allegations. Sir Gavin was appointed minister without portfolio after Mr Sunak, a close political ally, won the Tory leadership just two weeks ago. Complaints against him emerged when a series of expletive-laden texts he sent to then-chief whip Wendy Morton were published in The Sunday Times. A senior civil servant later told the Guardian that, during his time as defence secretary, Sir Gavin told them to “slit your throat” and, on another occasion, to “jump out of the window”. In his resignation letter, Sir Gavin said he disagreed with the “characterisation” of the claims “about [his] past conduct” but felt they had become a “distraction from the good work the government is doing”.

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Williamson warned Morton ‘not to push [him] out’ in explosive texts

Former chief whip Wendy Morton sparked outrage when she revealed a series of explosive texts directed at her by former Cabinet minister Gavin Williamson. 

In the texts, Mr Williamson appears to complain about not having been invited to the Queen’s funeral. 

He accuses the former chief whip of “rigging” the ticket allocations against MPs not “favoured” by then-Prime Minister Liz Truss. 

He reportedly warned Ms Morton “not to push him about” and said that “there is a price for everything”.

The Conservative Party has not confirmed if it will launch a formal investigation into Sir Gavin, two weeks after Ms Morton made her complaint.

Good morning

Good morning from London. I’m Tara Fair, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.

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