As well as being under scrutiny in relation to Sir Gavin, Mr Sunak has faced questions over his judgment in reappointing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary, after she resigned for breaking the Ministerial Code.
When he resigned from Mr Johnson’s Cabinet in July, Mr Sunak said the public expected government to be conducted “properly, competently and seriously”.
His comments when he took over as Prime Minister were intended to set behind him controversies that had beset Mr Johnson’s premiership.
Sir Gavin has rejected the allegations that he bullied any staff, claiming to have had “good working relationships” with his “brilliant officials”, but has not denied using the specific words.
Responding to Ms Morton’s complaint about him, he said he “regrets getting frustrated” and hopes to “work positively” with her in the future.
‘Gavin Williamson is quite a powerful man’
The Telegraph spoke to a number of former Cabinet ministers about Sir Gavin’s conduct in government.
One said many MPs who had been bullied by Mr Williamson were too “scared” to speak out.
“There are a number of MPs who have had a similar experience to Wendy Morton but they are too scared to say so,” said the minister.
“Gavin Williamson is quite a powerful man, and he is also a very nasty man. People are scared of the power he has.
“I don’t think his position is sustainable. But the fact he is still in his job reveals what Rishi Sunak’s true feelings are with regard to integrity and professionalism.”
A second former Cabinet minister described Sir Gavin as a “pretty odious” person who had a “heavy-handed” and “coercive” approach to running the whips’ office.
A third former Cabinet minister said: “Whips that rely on bullying are not very good whips. I think he had a reputation of being a bully, a longstanding one, and he played it up, like with all that tarantula nonsense.”
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labour Party, said: “This is a damning reflection of a weak Prime Minister.
“Rishi Sunak appointed Gavin Williamson with full knowledge of serious allegations about his conduct and repeatedly expressed confidence in him.
“This is yet another example of Rishi Sunak’s poor judgment and weak leadership. It is clear that he is trapped by the grubby backroom deals he made to dodge a vote, and is incapable of putting country before party.
“As families struggle during a cost of living crisis made in Downing Street, yet another Tory government has descended into chaos.”
