Cabinet Member Resigns Within Hours of Anne Milton’s Criticism

Published on: 8 Nov, 2022
Updated on: 10 Nov, 2022

Anne Milton the former MP for Guildford

By Martin Giles

Guildford’s former MP Anne Milton added to criticism of cabinet member Sir Gavin Williamson just before he resigned this evening.

He was already facing a complaint from the former government chief whip for text messages he had sent her and from a civil servant who claims Williamson told him to slit his throat.

In an interview with Channel 4 Anne Milton gave examples of behaviour she found “distasteful” when she was working under him when he was the government’s chief whip. Ms Milton was his deputy. She described Williamson’s behaviour while chief whip as “threatening” and “intimidating”.

Within hours of Ms Milton’s interview being published Sir Gavin, who was a minister without portfolio, announced his resignation.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is likely to be dismayed that a cabinet resignation has occurred so early under his leadership when Conservatives were hoping for a period of stability after the chaotic Truss and Johnson premierships.

Gavin Williamson was a close supporter of the prime minister during his leadership bid in the summer. He said he was resigning to comply with the complaints process and restore his reputation.

“Make sure when you give him this cheque he knows that I now own him.”

Sir Gavin Williamson has been accused of issuing an inappropriate threat to an MP in financial trouble by former deputy chief whip Anne Milton, who used to work with him when he was chief whip. pic.twitter.com/bo8WTBkGmQ

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 8, 2022

Responses to Cabinet Member Resigns Within Hours of Anne Milton’s Criticism

Anthony Mallard Reply

November 9, 2022 at 9:48 am

How interesting to learn that the portrayal of an amusingly named “chief whip” in Parliament appears to be mirrored in that wonderful programme Yes Minister and that the former Guildford MP now recalls, by way of examples, the unpleasantness – or worse – of them.

One is tempted to enquire what she did about this clearly unacceptable behaviour at the time. If she did take action, perhaps she would share the outcome with us, if she did nothing and she clearly believes such behaviour to be beyond the pale and improper, why not.
David Roberts Reply

November 9, 2022 at 5:12 pm

Interesting that the infantile Sir Gavin used a highly offensive, race-derived term (“own him”) imported, like so much other recent political language (“woke”, “boomer”) from the loathsome culture wars of the USA, a kind of politics he presumably admires. Parroting this foreign slang, however, almost always degrades British political discourse.

Interesting too that his resignation was prompted by bullying, and not being bullied by, the then Chief Whip, turning traditional parliamentary power dynamics on their head. Sir Gavin would probably call her a “snowflake”.