Gavin Williamson Sacked over Huawei Leaks
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cambridge
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Darling - where are we?
Posts: 2,496
I see Penny Morduant will retain her position as Minister for Women. Another part time Defence Secretary. Tells you everything you need to know, if you didn’t already have questions, about the PM’s opinion of the Forces. Disgusting.
I suspect this also means Williamson now has free rein to do as he sees fit now no longer constrained by Collective Responsibility.
I suspect this also means Williamson now has free rein to do as he sees fit now no longer constrained by Collective Responsibility.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Lechlade, Glos.UK
Posts: 683
I doubt if May's government will last much longer anyway. Williamson is best out of it. As an aside, it seemed that May was, as usual, was/is going her own way anyway and ignoring the advice of her MOD staff.
And I think there is more to this than meets the eye. Is this a stitch-up?
And I think there is more to this than meets the eye. Is this a stitch-up?
Last edited by sharpend; 1st May 2019 at 18:56.
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 459
Originally Posted by pr00ne
Agree with Nutloose. I fear that Defence will regret this loss.
I blame the Russians. Hacked his phone and set him up like a duck.
There's more to this story than meets the eye.
Either way it's a shame, he was good at his job.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,745
Oh dear, what a pity! Who here can know? What I have seen of him, from open reporting, is...diddly-squat! Shouted his mouth off at times but, fell on his face repeatedly. Where is his "thrice rehashed" Defence review? I see no evidence of some great new dawn of political Defence reality waiting to emerge and, I sense a continued "Softly, softly, Oooops" ...! 
OAP
OAP
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Whyte House
Age: 91
Posts: 1,882
Originally Posted by Fareastdriver
I wonder whether any members of the NSC own a Huawei 'phone...
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Horsham, England, UK. ---o--O--o---
Posts: 1,048
I thought he was better than some of the previous Ministers, and stood up for The Armed Services rather well. I don't believe he leaked the NSC information. But someone did or otherwise the journalist added 2 and 2 and came up with the correct answer.
I'm pretty sure that Huawei equipment in our network could be a risk to out National Security. The rest of the Five Eyes certainly think so!
I'm pretty sure that Huawei equipment in our network could be a risk to out National Security. The rest of the Five Eyes certainly think so!
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: The Whyte House
Age: 91
Posts: 1,882
At least she's previously been Minister of State for the Armed Forces and is a Royal Naval Reservist, so has some background in defence matters. Daughter of a former Para too.
Made I chuckle too (from Wiki):
When receiving The Spectator magazine's Parliamentarian of the Year award in November 2014, Mordaunt said that she had delivered a speech in the House of Commons just before the Easter recess in 2013 on poultry welfare so as to use the word "cock" as a forfeit for a misdemeanour during Naval Reserve training. Mordaunt used the word "cock" six times and "lay" or "laid" five times. Following her comments, she was accused by Labour MP Kate Hoey of trivialising parliament.
Made I chuckle too (from Wiki):
When receiving The Spectator magazine's Parliamentarian of the Year award in November 2014, Mordaunt said that she had delivered a speech in the House of Commons just before the Easter recess in 2013 on poultry welfare so as to use the word "cock" as a forfeit for a misdemeanour during Naval Reserve training. Mordaunt used the word "cock" six times and "lay" or "laid" five times. Following her comments, she was accused by Labour MP Kate Hoey of trivialising parliament.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Join Date: Jul 2000
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https://order-order.com/
Gavin Williamson has responded to the PM’s letter
Dear Prime Minister,
It has been a great privilege to serve as Defence Secretary and Chief Whip in your Government. Every day I have seen the extraordinary work of the men and women of our armed forces, who go to incredible lengths to defend our country.
I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my Department. I emphatically believe this was not the case. I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position.
I have always trusted my civil servants, military advisers and staff. I believe the assurances they have given me.
I appreciate you offering me the option to resign, but to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case.
Restoring public confidence in the NSC is an ambition we both share. With that in mind I hope that your decision achieves this aim rather than being seen as a temporary distraction.
As I said there has been no greater privilege than working with our armed forces and I will continue to stand up for our service personnel and the superb work they do.
Yours,
Gavin
Gavin Williamson has responded to the PM’s letter
Dear Prime Minister,
It has been a great privilege to serve as Defence Secretary and Chief Whip in your Government. Every day I have seen the extraordinary work of the men and women of our armed forces, who go to incredible lengths to defend our country.
I am sorry that you feel recent leaks from the National Security Council originated in my Department. I emphatically believe this was not the case. I strenuously deny that I was in any way involved in this leak and I am confident that a thorough and formal inquiry would have vindicated my position.
I have always trusted my civil servants, military advisers and staff. I believe the assurances they have given me.
I appreciate you offering me the option to resign, but to resign would have been to accept that I, my civil servants, my military advisers or my staff were responsible: this was not the case.
Restoring public confidence in the NSC is an ambition we both share. With that in mind I hope that your decision achieves this aim rather than being seen as a temporary distraction.
As I said there has been no greater privilege than working with our armed forces and I will continue to stand up for our service personnel and the superb work they do.
Yours,
Gavin
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 459
Originally Posted by The Old Fat One
hahahahahaha
"Strong and stable government"
lololololololololol
"Strong and stable government"
lololololololololol
I ask purely for information.
Er, lol's - as they say...and as you have stated...
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Darkest Surrey
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Originally Posted by Willard Whyte
When receiving The Spectator magazine's Parliamentarian of the Year award in November 2014, Mordaunt said that she had delivered a speech in the House of Commons just before the Easter recess in 2013 on poultry welfare so as to use the word "cock" as a forfeit for a misdemeanour during Naval Reserve training. Mordaunt used the word "cock" six times and "lay" or "laid" five times. Following her comments, she was accused by Labour MP Kate Hoey of trivialising parliament.
