Rishi Sunak stood by high minister Sir Gavin Williamson at this time over expletive-laden textual content messages despatched to the previous Tory chief whip.

An ally of the Prime Minister stated Mr Sunak continued to have ‘confidence’ in Sir Gavin regardless of requires him to be sacked.

Sir Gavin, who was reappointed to a Cupboard function by Mr Sunak final month, is dealing with an investigation over threatening messages despatched to then chief whip Wendy Morton in current weeks.

They’re alleged to quantity to ‘bullying and intimidation’. 

Sir Gavin moaned about being excluded from the Queen’s funeral and accused Ms Morton of utilizing the dying of Her Majesty to ‘punish’ Tory MPs who weren’t favoured by then PM Liz Truss.

‘Properly let’s see what number of extra occasions you f*** us throughout. There’s a value for the whole lot,’ learn one of many messages despatched by Sir Gavin.

Sir Gavin has since spoken of his ‘remorse’ about ‘getting pissed off’.

However questions are actually being requested of how a lot Mr Sunak knew of the row when he appointed Sir Gavin as a Cupboard Workplace minster on the finish of final month.

Then Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry is claimed to have informed the PM the day earlier than he entered No 10 that Ms Morton had submitted a proper criticism to the get together about Sir Gavin’s conduct.

Oliver Dowden, a extra senior minister to Sir Gavin on the Cupboard Workplace, at this time admitted the PM knew Sir Gavin was topic to a criticism.

However he denied Mr Sunak had seen the messages or was conscious of ‘particular allegations’ when he appointed Sir Gavin.

Sir Gavin Williamson, who was appointed to a Cabinet role last month, is facing an investigation over abusive messages sent to then chief whip Wendy Morton

Sir Gavin Williamson, who was appointed to a Cupboard function final month, is dealing with an investigation over abusive messages despatched to then chief whip Wendy Morton

An ally of the Prime Minister said Rishi Sunak continued to have 'confidence' in Sir Gavin despite calls for him to be sacked

An ally of the Prime Minister stated Rishi Sunak continued to have ‘confidence’ in Sir Gavin regardless of requires him to be sacked

Sir Gavin moaned about being excluded from the Queen's funeral and accused Ms Morton of using the death of Her Majesty to 'punish' MPs who were not favoured by then PM Liz Truss

Sir Gavin moaned about being excluded from the Queen’s funeral and accused Ms Morton of utilizing the dying of Her Majesty to ‘punish’ MPs who weren’t favoured by then PM Liz Truss

In his messages to Ms Morton, published by the Sunday Times, Sir Gavin complained about being excluded from the Queen's funeral despite being a privy counsellor

In his messages to Ms Morton, printed by the Sunday Occasions, Sir Gavin complained about being excluded from the Queen’s funeral regardless of being a privy counsellor

Mr Dowden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, informed Sky Information’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: ‘As you could have seen from the previous chairman Jake Berry, he says that he highlighted that to the PM.

‘However when it comes to the precise allegations, the precise trade, the PM wasn’t conscious of it till final evening.’

He added: ‘I don’t suppose it was any secret that Gavin Williamson and different backbenchers had a tough relationship with the chief whip.

‘He (Mr Sunak) was conscious that there was a tough relationship between the chief whip and numerous backbenchers, of which Gavin Williamson was one.’

Requested if Mr Sunak had confidence in Sir Gavin, Mr Dowden stated: ‘In fact the PM continues to trust in Gavin Williamson.’

Mr Dowden claimed Sir Gavin’s messages have been despatched ‘within the warmth of the second expressing frustration’ and got here at ‘a tough time for the get together’.

‘He now accepts that he shouldn’t have finished it and he regrets doing so,’ he stated. ‘Fortunately we’re in a greater place now as a celebration.’

Former Cupboard minister Nadine Dorries hit out at Mr Dowden’s feedback a couple of ‘tough relationship’ between Sir Gavin and Ms Morton.

‘Any girl would have similar with any man who tried to bully, threaten and intimidate her,’ she posted on Twitter.

‘Oliver Dowden’s informal defence of Williamson is simply improper and completely indefensible.’

In his messages to Ms Morton – which spanned throughout 5 weeks and have been printed by the Sunday Occasions – Sir Gavin complained that members of the privy council who weren’t ‘favoured’ have been excluded from the Queen’s funeral.

‘Very poor and sends a really clear message,’ he wrote.

However Ms Morton assured him ‘that’s not the case’ and the ‘variety of locations allotted was extraordinarily restricted’.

There are round 740 members of the privy council, primarily made up of senior politicians who’re present or former MPs or friends, with Sir Gavin having been a member since 2015.

Sir Gavin has twice been sacked from the Cupboard lately.

He was fired as defence secretary by former PM Theresa Might in 2019 following the leaking of confidential Nationwide Safety Council data.

And he was later dismissed as training secretary by Boris Johnson final 12 months following what was broadly considered to be a disastrous dealing with of faculty closures and exams in the course of the Covid disaster.

Sir Gavin is now dealing with requires him to be sacked from a Cupboard function for a 3rd time.

Mr Sunak can also be beneath stress over his judgement in appointing Sir Gavin.

It follows a row over his reappointment of Suella Braverman as Dwelling Secretary simply six days after she was pressured to resign from the identical function over sending official paperwork from a personal e-mail handle.

Strain was heaped on Mr Sunak to behave as former Cupboard minister Brandon Lewis pointedly posted on Twitter: ‘I’ve seen the impression bullying can have, attain out and be there for individuals who could need assistance. It could actually make all of the distinction.’

Oliver Dowden, a more senior minister to Sir Gavin at the Cabinet Office, today admitted the PM knew Sir Gavin was subject to a complaint

Oliver Dowden, a extra senior minister to Sir Gavin on the Cupboard Workplace, at this time admitted the PM knew Sir Gavin was topic to a criticism

Calling for Sir Gavin to be fired, Liberal Democrat deputy chief Daisy Cooper stated: ‘If the PM was severe about restoring integrity he would sack Gavin Williamson.

‘As an alternative, as soon as once more he’s prioritising the pursuits of the Conservative Social gathering over these of the nation.’

Labour shadow minister Ed Miliband warned in opposition to a ‘cover-up’ or a ‘whitewash’ relating to the allegations in opposition to Sir Gavin.

He informed Sky Information: ‘These are extremely severe points and I feel it actually calls into query Rishi Sunak’s judgment and the best way he made choices about his Cupboard.

‘We already find out about the entire Suella Braverman subject: being reappointed six days after she resigned.

‘It was very noticeable… that Oliver Dowden couldn’t deny that Rishi Sunak knew about these points to do with potential bullying in opposition to Wendy Morton, the chief whip, by Gavin Williamson and but he reappointed him.

‘What it says is that Rishi Sunak was making choices merely in his personal slim short-term curiosity so far as the Conservative Social gathering management was involved, not the nationwide curiosity, and there must be an pressing unbiased investigation into precisely what occurred.

‘We are able to’t have a cover-up, we will’t have a whitewash right here.

‘What did Rishi Sunak know? When did he understand it? What did Gavin Williamson do and what are the implications of that?’

A Conservative spokesman stated the get together had ‘a sturdy complaints course of in place’, including: ‘This course of is rightly a confidential one, in order that complainants can come ahead in confidence.’

Sir Gavin informed The Sunday Occasions: ‘I after all remorse getting pissed off about the best way colleagues and I felt we have been being handled.

‘I’m completely satisfied to talk with Wendy and I hope to work positively together with her sooner or later as I’ve prior to now.’