Oliver Dowden – 2022 Interview on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on the Behaviour of Gavin Williamson
The interview with Oliver Dowden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on 6 November 2022.
LAURA KUENSSBERG
[Asked about the private messages sent by Gavin Williamson to Wendy Morton, the Chief Whip and whether they were acceptable].
OLIVER DOWDEN
No, it’s not. These were sent in the heat of the moment at a very difficult time. Gavin accepts that he shouldn’t have said these things, that he regrets it and we should all treat each other with respect and courtesy and that was not the case.
LAURA KUENSSBERG
[Asked why Rishi Sunak said his Government would have the highest integrity, but yet he appointed Gavin Williamson knowing that there as
OLIVER DOWDEN
Well, it was no secret that Gavin, and some others, didn’t enjoy a good relationship with the Chief Whip at the time. It was not the case, though, that the Prime Minister saw the detail. The complaint itself is ongoing and I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to prejudge that and obviously it has to be treated with confidentiality.
LAURA KUENSSBERG
[Said that we’ve seen the texts, there’s no dispute about it, why would viewers think a big investigation is needed?]
OLIVER DOWDEN
Well, on the facts of that that exchange, as I said, to you, that’s not acceptable. He shouldn’t have said it. He has said that he regrets doing so. He has given some context, which was that this was at the time of heightened frustration with him as a backbencher and the chief whip.
LAURA KUENSSBERG
[Asked if people can use language like that just because they’re in a bad mood?]
OLIVER DOWDEN
This is not acceptable, however, there is this complaints process ongoing and it was not the case that the Prime Minister had seen this exchange.
LAURA KUENSSBERG
[Stated that there would be no consequences for Gavin Williamson?]
OLIVER DOWDEN
This is ongoing and I don’t think you can say we’re going to have a complaints process and then have a minister come on this show and start to prejudge that. What is right for for me to say is that this is not acceptable, that is what Gavin himself has accepted.
