UK's Sunak hit by first resignation from Cabinet

Questions have been raised over the political judgment of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after he suffered the first resignation from his government less than a month after taking office.

Gavin Williamson, who was appointed minister without portfolio in the Cabinet just two weeks ago, was forced to step down following a string of bullying allegations, many of which emerged days before the start of the national Anti-Bullying Week initiative.

The story began when The Sunday Times newspaper published expletive-filled texts that Williamson sent to then-Conservative Party chief whip Wendy Morton about the allocation of places at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, alleging preferential treatment had been given to members of Parliament who were close to then-prime minister Liz Truss.

These were followed by a senior civil servant telling The Guardian of intimidating and aggressive language Williamson had used toward staff members when he was defense secretary, and then another Conservative MP, Anne Milton, came forward with more allegations of threatening behavior when Williamson had been the party's chief whip.

When faced with the latest claims against Williamson, Sunak said the language used was "not acceptable", but on Monday his office said he had full confidence in him.

On Tuesday, following Sunak's return from COP 27 in Egypt, the pair had face-to-face discussions and Williamson's resignation soon followed.

In his formal letter of resignation, Williamson said: "I recognize these (allegations) are becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing. I have therefore decided to step back from government so that I can comply fully with the complaints process that is underway and clear my name of any wrongdoing."

Sunak replied and said he accepted it with "great sadness". "I support your decision to step back and understand why you have taken it. I would like to thank you for your personal support and loyalty," Sunak said.

Many observers have questioned why Sunak appointed him in the first place, given that Williamson had previously been sacked from two different ministerial positions by two different prime ministers.

The opposition Labour Party's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy told the BBC that Williamson's behavior was "repellent, odious and unacceptable".

"We really should have an account of why he came back into government," Lammy said.

julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com