Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of being too weak to stand up to a 'cartoon bully' after the resignation of Gavin Williamson from the cabinet. During Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer criticised Sunak for appointing Williamson and expressing 'great sadness' at his departure.
Williamson resigned on Tuesday night following allegations that he told a senior civil servant to 'slit your throat' while serving as defence secretary. He also sent abusive messages to Wendy Morton, Liz Truss's chief whip, after not being invited to the Queen's funeral.
Starmer compared Williamson to a 'sad middle manager getting off on intimidating those beneath him' and said Sunak was 'so weak, so worried the bullies will turn on him, that he hides behind them'. He asked what message it sends when the prime minister lines up alongside bullies and thanks them for their loyalty.
Sunak responded that Williamson's behaviour was unacceptable and that it was right for him to resign. He said he had not known about the specific allegations before appointing Williamson as a Cabinet Office minister last month. Sunak insisted his government would be characterised by 'integrity, professionalism and accountability'.
Starmer continued his attack, saying Sunak was too weak to sack security threats around the cabinet table, too weak to take part in a leadership contest after losing the first one, and too weak to stand up for working people. He also criticised Sunak for flirting with climate change deniers before attending the COP summit.
