Minister warns that 'we are all sackable' in Williamson row

SIR GAVIN WILLIAMSON was told today that "we are all sackable" as he faced a growing battle to stay in the Government after a fresh bullying claim.

- Nicholas Cecil Political Editor

Former Chief Whip Wendy Morton was reported to have referred damning emails that he sent to her to the Commons Independent Complaints & Grievance Scheme (ICGS).

The move added to pressure on the Cabinet Office minister as a probe by the ICGS would be independent and less likely to be swayed than an inquiry by the Conservative party into the messages.

In a series of expletive-laden texts exposed over the weekend, Sir Gavin accused Ms Morton of seeking to “punish" MPs out of favour with then-premier Liz Truss by excluding them from the Queen's funeral, warning: "There is a price for everything." At the same time, Sir Gavin also faced a claim in The Guardian that he told a senior civil servant to "slit your throat" in what was felt to be a sustained campaign of bullying when he was at the Ministry of Defence.

He issued a statement last night rejecting the bullying allegations but did not specifically deny using the language alleged.