There are some politicians who despite our confrontational parliamentary system remain universally liked. They’re congenial, all-round good eggs.
Although some may disagree, I’m thinking of kindly walruses such as Father of the House Ken Clarke (Con – Rushcliffe) or jovial wind-up merchants like Stephen Pound (Lab – Ealing North).
Judging by the mood in the Commons yesterday, it’s safe to assume ex-defence secretary Gavin Williamson is held in no such regard.
Sure, the odd Gavin loyalist would have described him as a dedicated minister. Goofy rather than nasty. But the general consensus around is that he is a prize pillock.
Judging by the mood in the Commons yesterday, it's safe to assume ex-defence secretary Gavin Williamson is held in no such regard (pictured outside Downing Street on Thursday)
Williamson shared this snap on his Instagram today with the caption: 'When you have had a pretty tough week it’s rather nice to get out and about with some really good company. #dogsofinstagram #dogs'
Shorn of his ministerial epaulettes late on Wednesday after he was deemed to have leaked sensitive information from a National Security Council meeting, there was a piquant atmosphere when the subject of his dramatic defenestration was brought to the chamber via an urgent question from deputy Labour leader Tom Watson.
From opposition members, glee dripped out of every pore.On the government side, well, let us just say the atmosphere was far from funereal.
The Prime Minister’s PPS Andrew Bowie (Con – West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) toured the backbenches grinning and glad-handing colleagues like a trendy vicar buttering up his congregation. Make of that what you will.
Predictably, Theresa May chose not to attend. Dispatched in her stead was Cabinet Office Secretary David Lidington, who appeared surprisingly chipper considering the inevitable onslaught he faced. Lidders said the leak would not be referred to the police and having sacked Williamson, the PM ‘now considered the matter closed.’
Oh well, that’s that then.
Not so fast, said Watson.
The saga, according to Labour’s holier-than-thou deputy, was indicative of the ‘malaise and sickness’ at the heart of the Government. In what world should the PM be the arbiter of whether a criminal act had been committed?
David Lidington told Parliament the leak would not be referred to the police and having sacked Williamson, the PM 'now considered the
