UK minister resigns over allegations of bullying

British minister Gavin Williamson is forced to leave office over allegations he sent threatening and expletive-laden messages to other politicians.

Williamson, who tendered his resignation on Tuesday, has been under pressure since it emerged that he had sent such messages to Tory colleague and former chief whip Wendy Morton, various British newspapers reported.

The messages had apparently said that she was seeking to "punish" MPs -- out of favor with then-prime minister Liz Truss -- by excluding them from Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, warning, "There is a price for everything."

According to The Guardian, Williamson also allegedly told a senior civil servant to "slit your throat" and "jump out of the window," as part of an apparent bullying campaign while he was defense secretary.

"As you know, there is an ongoing complaints process concerning text messages I sent to a colleague. There have been other allegations made about my past conduct," Williamson said in his resignation letter.

"I refute the characterization of these claims, but I recognize these are becoming a distraction for the good work this government is doing for the British people," the letter added. "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."

Williamson, 46, was sacked twice as minister in the past by former premiers Boris Johnson and Theresa May.

Sitting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, meanwhile, said he would not be "passing judgment" until after an "independent complaints investigation."

According to experts, Williamson's case as well as his returning Suella Braverman to the interior ministry -- less than a week after she was fired by his predecessor Truss for breaching email security rules -- have, however, prompted doubts about Sunak's political judgment.

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