Dr Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the NEU, defended the role of teachers and education staff during the pandemic, saying they worked tirelessly, listening to the science and acting to protect the school community when the government was doing neither. On 1 May 2019, Williamson was asked to resign from his position as Defence Secretary, following the leaking of confidential information relating to a National Security Council meeting. On 1 May 2019 he was dismissed as Defence Secretary, following a leak from the National Security Council; Williamson has denied leaking the information. Updated In September 2012, Williamson became PPS to Patrick McLoughlin, Secretary of State for Transport, and in 2013 became PPS to the Prime Minister, David Cameron. Discovery Company. Gavin Williamson said teaching unions 'just hate work' during Covid pandemic News and Gossip - March 1, 2023 0 Teachers complained about a lack of PPE in order "to have an excuse not to teach", Gavin Williamson said in a leaked WhatsApp chat, commenting later that some teaching unions "really do just hate work". He refused to resign and was then sacked. I just felt so personally upset about it. 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A vocal critic of lockdowns, Ms Oakeshott obtained them while helping Mr Hancock, then then former health secretary, write his book, Pandemic Diaries. Williamson campaigned on a number of issues in his first year in Parliament. ", Covid messages leak a massive betrayal - Hancock, Hancock denies claim he rejected care home advice, Rees-Mogg had Covid test couriered during shortage, School face masks worn to avoid Covid row - claims, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Theresa May said that she had "compelling evidence" that Williamson had leaked the information and that she had "lost confidence in his ability to serve in his role". Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The Mail on Sunday quoted an unnamed ally of Hammond comparing Williamson to Private Pike, a hapless character in the sitcom Dad's Army. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Williamson has not yet publicly reacted to Miltons claims. May . It's emerged Matt Hancock was involved in a bitter clash with the then-education secretary over the closure of schools during the #pandemic.Leaked WhatsApp messages show Sir Gavin Williamson wanted classrooms to stay open, but the former health secretary shut them. VideoRussian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. A day after the conversation, the government announced that secondary schoolchildren in areas with heightened lockdown rules would need to wear face masks in corridors. The Conservatives have shown us today exactly how much they value our teachers., The Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Munira Wilson, said: Gavin Williamson was a disgraceful education secretary and these comments solidify his place in history as one of the worst ministers ever to grace government., Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning, The schools minister, Nick Gibb, attempted to defend Williamson. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. He said they were looking for an "excuse" not to work. Before we perform another U-turn can I have a view on whether they are necessary?, Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning,