London
CNN
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British cupboard workplace minister Gavin Williamson resigned from his function on Tuesday following current allegations of bullying, saying the accusations towards him have been “changing into a distraction for the great work this authorities is doing.”
“As you understand, there may be an ongoing complaints course of regarding textual content messages I despatched to a colleague,” Williamson mentioned in his resignation letter, addressed to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
“I’m complying with this course of and I’ve apologized to the recipient for these messages. Since then, there have been different allegations made about my previous conduct. I refute the characterization of those claims, however I acknowledge these have gotten a distraction for the great work this authorities is doing for the British folks,” he added within the letter.
“I’ve due to this fact determined to step again from authorities in order that I can comply totally with the complaints course of that’s underway and clear my title of any wrongdoing,” Williamson mentioned.
The Conservative Occasion lawmaker was beforehand fired from his put up as protection minister in 2019 by then-Prime Minister Theresa Might over the leaking of a key determination associated to the Chinese language telecoms big Huawei.
Might’s determination adopted an inquiry into how the Day by day Telegraph newspaper found that the UK authorities was making ready to offer Huawei entry to elements of the nation’s 5G cell community. Williamson on the time “strenuously” denied he was the supply of the leak, in a letter posted to his Twitter account.
Later that 12 months, he was appointed Secretary of State for Training beneath Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Williamson is a former ex-chief whip and is taken into account Sunak’s shut ally. Earlier than his resignation Tuesday, Williamson held a place as Minister with out Portfolio in Sunak’s authorities.