Gavin Williamson: the tarantula-wielding Tory minister accused of bullying

Embattled Tory minister Gavin Williamson is facing fresh bullying allegations that have prompted a cabinet colleague to warn that “we are all sackable”.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride told Sky News that Williamson was an “important member” of Rishi Sunak’s cabinet, but added: “As we have seen in the recent past, even the prime minister is sackable.” 

Williamson was already under investigation for alleged bullying when The Guardian reported yesterday that he had told a senior civil servant to “slit your throat” and had “deliberately demeaned and intimidated” staff. The claims pile further pressure on Sunak to axe the former chief whip, who has strongly rejected the allegations of bullying.

What is Williamson’s background?

Born on 25 June 1976, Williamson grew up in Scarborough in North Yorkshire. His father, Ray, was a council planner and his mother, Beverly, worked in a job centre. Both were Labour supporters.

The future Tory MP attended a state comprehensive, Raincliffe School, and Scarborough Sixth Form College, and went on to study social sciences at the University of Bradford. He was also active in politics during his university days, serving as national chair of the now-defunct Conservative Students.

Williamson has claimed that after graduating in 1997, he was offered a job with the Tory party. But he became a fireplace salesperson instead after his father advised him to “get a real job”. Williamson went on to become managing director of Aynsley China, a Staffordshire-based pottery firm, and sat on the board of the British Ceramic Confederation.

He remained active in politics, however. In 2001, “while still only 24”, he was elected as a North Yorkshire county councillor in the Seamer and Ayton ward, said The Yorkshire Post. That same year he married primary school teacher Joanne Eland, with whom he has two children.

Williamson also “held leading roles” in Conservative associations in the Staffordshire area, Stoke-on-Trent and Derbyshire Dales, before standing for parliament in the 2005 election, said political magazine The House. His bid to become the MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood failed, with Williamson finishing more than 5,000 votes behind Labour MP Joan Humble. 

Article source: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/people/958439/gavin-williamson-the-tarantula-wielding-cabinet-minister-accused-of-bullying