Gavin Williamson to undergo 'behaviour training' after being found guilty of 'offensive and intimidating behaviour'

Gavin Williamson

Gavin Williamson has been found guilty of bullying former chief whip Wendy Morton.

PA
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 04/09/2023

- 10:21

Updated: 04/09/2023

- 11:18

Williamson was found to have bullied the then-Chief Whip Wendy Morton in a series of text messages about the former minister not being allocated tickets to the Queen's funeral

Gavin Williamson has been found guilty of bullying former chief whip Wendy Morton.

The former Education Secretary will have to attend behaviour training and apologise to the Commons.


The Independent Expert Panel today found that Williamson was in breach of the Bullying and Harrasment Policy when he sent a series of text messages to Morton after he wasn't allocated tickets to the Queen's funeral.

Morton made a complaint about these messages to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in November 2022.

The texts were found to be "offensive and intimidating".

The sub-panel determined that the "appropriate sanction" was to require Sir Gavin to make an "unreserved apology by way of a personal statement in the House", and to undertake behaviour training.

Williamson is said to have accepted this reccomendation.

The report found that Williamson attempted to put pressure on Morton by criticising her decisions on the allocation of tickets for the Queen’s funeral.

One text - in a series sent to the former Chief Whip - said: "Well let’s see how many more times you f*** us all over."

He added: "There is a price for everything."

Williamson resigned from the Cabinet in November 2022, in the wake of the allegations.

It is the third time he has resigned from a cabinet post.

You may like