Theresa May sacked Gavin Williamson because ‘he said her diabetes makes her unfit to be PM’
The PM - who suffers from Type 1 diabetes - was accused of using the Huawei leak as an excuse to dump the fame-hungry Defence Secretary
FURIOUS Theresa May axed cabinet minister Gavin Williamson after he said behind her back she was too ill to be Prime Minister, it was claimed last night.
The PM - who suffers from Type 1 diabetes - was accused of using the Huawei leak as an excuse to dump the fame-hungry Defence Secretary following his slurs about her "failing health".
a top Tory official allegedly heard Williamson telling colleagues her diabetes meant she was unfit for the top job and should resign.
He was also overheard denouncing her fitness to be PM at a dinner earlier this year, sources told the paper.
One of May’s allies said: “It’s absolutely outrageous that he would attempt to use the prime minister’s health condition against her and to suggest it makes her too frail and ill to be the prime minister.”
Mr Williamson denied speaking about Mrs May's health last night as a briefing war broke out in the wake of his sacking last Wednesday.
The Sunday Times said a leaked document from the National Security Council - the same body Mr Williamson was accused of betraying - showed he was planning military interventions in five African countries.
Aides claimed Mrs May's trust in him was also eroded when he scrawled "f*** the prime minister" on official papers after she stopped him sending warships to the South China Sea.
'NO CRIME COMMITTED'
A friend of Mr Williamson responded: “It’s ironic that an NSC document has been leaked in an attempt to discredit Gavin.”
Meanwhile junior minister Tobias Ellwood had reported him over "unfounded" claims of a "bullying management style".
The defence secretary was said to have poured scorn on the ex-soldier's heroics after he gave first aid to dying PC Palmer during the 2017 Westminster terror attack.
A source close to Mr Williamson said: "Tobias and Gavin always worked closely together on military affairs, and no complaint was ever made regarding bullying."
Mrs May and Britain's top civil servant Sir Mark Sedwill have come under intense pressure over the Huawei affair.
Mr Williamson - who denies leaking details of a secret meeting - was sacked after a Cabinet Office probe led by Sir Mark pointed the finger at him.
Last night he called the probe that led to his sacking a "shabby and discredited witch hunt", Sky News reports.
And he told the Sunday Express: "This whole affair hasn't been about trying to find the real culprit who leaked what was said at that meeting.
"It has been a game of politics, it's been about settling scores and trying to prove the Prime Minister's political strength.
"The PM has spoken about compelling evidence. Well, I'd like to see it."
It came hours after Scotland Yard confirmed the leak from a secret Whitehall meeting did not amount to a criminal offence.
Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said the details disclosed to the media did not "contain information that would breach the Official Secrets Act".
He said: "I have considered all the information available to me and I have taken legal advice.
"I am satisfied that the disclosure did not amount to a criminal offence, either under the Official Secrets Act or Misconduct in a Public Office.
"No crime has been committed and this is not a matter for the police."
The row follows a leak from a National Security Council meeting on whether to allow Chinese firm Huawei to help build the 5G phone network.
The Daily Telegraph reported five ministers had objected on security grounds, but the PM overruled them.
Mr Williamson has said he "swears on my children's lives" he was not behind the leak and said he'd welcome a police probe, believing he'd be "exonerated".
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Mr Basu, head of the Met's Specialist Operations, did not rule on who was behind the leak.
He said: "Any organisation has the right to conduct an internal investigation into conduct in the workplace. It is not a matter for the police unless a crime is alleged.
"At no time have the police been provided with evidence by the Cabinet Office that a crime has been committed nor has it been suggested that a Gateway process would be required to enable that determination to be made.
"No crime has been alleged by the owner of the material and I am clear that the leak did not cause damage to the public interest at a level at which it would be necessary to engage misconduct in a public office. It would be inappropriate to carry out a police investigation in these circumstances."
The Sun on Sunday Says
THE police have announced that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson didn’t commit a crime by allegedly leaking information about the Chinese tech giant Huawei.
In fact, they said, he didn’t break Britain’s Official Secrets Act, didn’t commit an act of misconduct in public office and it wasn’t a police matter at all.
Anyone might think he was fired on Wednesday to divert attention from Mrs May’s Brexit deal with Labour on the eve of the local elections.
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