New Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said he is “both honoured and excited” by his promotion, following Sir Michael Fallon’s resignation amid sleaze allegations.
The former chief whip’s appointment by Theresa May to one of the Cabinet’s most senior posts provoked widespread surprise at Westminster, as he has never before held ministerial office.
And there were signs of consternation in Conservative ranks, with some backbenchers suggesting that the 41-year-old South Staffordshire MP lacks experience and may have earned his meteoric rise by his staunch loyalty to the Prime Minister.
One Tory former minister, who did not want to be named, said some of the party’s MPs were in “head-in-hands despair” at Mr Williamson’s “bizarre” appointment.
“The feeling is it’s just a move that demonstrates Theresa May’s own weakness by allowing the guy who suggested to her that Fallon should go to take that job,” the MP told the Press Association.
“It’s a bizarre appointment from somebody who’s so shell-shocked she doesn’t know which direction to turn in and so is listening to the person she just likes and trusts rather than having a view about it herself.”
And in an apparent reference to Mr Williamson’s promotion, Tory MP Sarah Wollaston tweeted: “There are times when offered a job that it would be better to advise that another would be more experienced & suited to the role.”
Sir Michael quit on Wednesday after admitting his behaviour had “fallen below the high standards required” in the role and acknowledging that what might have been acceptable in the past was no longer appropriate.
He was one of the most senior ministers to be caught up in a wave of allegations of improper behaviour swirling around Westminster, after admitting putting his hand on the knee of radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer some years ago.
Mr Williamson was replaced as chief whip by his former deputy Julian Smith, while Tatton MP Esther McVey – a former TV presenter who served as a minister in David Cameron’s government – was made deputy chief whip.
In a statement following his installation at the Ministry of Defence offices on Whitehall, Mr Williamson said he was “determined to ensure that the armed forces receive the recognition they deserve for the great work they do, including through the Armed Forces Covenant, and that they evolve both to meet the changing threats that we face and to ensure that they properly represent the modern society that they defend”.
Mrs May ignored questions about her domestic difficulties as she welcomed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Number 10.
The PM’s official spokesman told reporters that Mr Williamson was not involved in discussions about the reshuffle following Sir Michael’s resignation, as chief whips often are.