Gavin Williamson: The sacked defence secretary’s biggest gaffes in government

The former rising star is known for his controversial and eccentric remarks

Gavin Williamson‘s sacking over a leak about the National Security Council meeting about Chinese tech giant Huawei’s potential involvement in the UK’s 5G network has halted the former defence secretary’s rapid rise through the Conservative Party‘s ranks.

Named as the source of the leak following an inquiry into how details of the discussions became public, the prime minister, Theresa May, is said to have told Mr Williamson that there was “compelling evidence” to show he was the person who spoke to the press.

The MP for South Staffordshire was a controversial and unconventional figure in parliament, known for his pet tarantula Cronus and his enthusiastic use of the Instagram social media app.

After entering parliament in 2010 he quickly became a prominent figure in the party, holding positions as the parliamentary private secretary to David Cameron and chief whip, before becoming the youngest defence secretary in history.

Media reports have often said Mr Williamson, who had no departmental or military experience prior to the role, frequently clashed with military personal at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over his allegedly eccentric plans.

These are his most notable gaffes from his time in government:

1. “Go away and shut up”

After former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with the novichok nerve agent at his home in Salisbury last year, Mr Williamson sought to address the attack, blamed by the government on Russian operatives.

He told Russia to “go away and shut up” during a question and answer session following a speech in Bristol.

Asked whether the UK and Russia were entering a new Cold War, the then-defence secretary replied: “Let’s face it, relations ain’t good, are they?”

His remarks were widely-ridiculed and referenced in the wake of his sacking.

2. Attaching guns to tractors to solve the military’s equipment crisis

Defence officials were reportedly left bemused by a series of bizarre plans Mr Williamson allegedly proposed to help the MoD deal with budget cuts.

He is reported to have asked if the ministry could buy tractors and “put really expensive guns on them” and put forward a plan to hide a missile defence system in a vehicle disguised as a Coca-Cola lorry.

His behaviour was ”totally bizarre and no one knows what to do”, a source told The Sun last year.

3. Firing paintballs at Spanish ships in Gibraltar

Mr Williamson is said to have asked military officials to “paintball ships trespassing in Gibraltar‘s waters” to humiliate the Spanish Navy.

The proposal came amid reports of a sharp increase in Spanish ships making illegal incursions into the territory’s waters last year.

The MoD confirmed Mr Williamson had made the suggestion but argued he was “speaking in jest”.

4. His disastrous interview with Richard Madeley

After telling Russia to “go away and shut up”, Mr Williamson was asked whether he regretted the “Trump-esque” statement by TV presenter Richard Madeley.

When he repeatedly avoided answering the question, the Good Morning Britain host abruptly stopped him live on air and told him that he was terminating the interview “because you won’t answer the question”.

5. When he may have scuppered trade talks with China

Chancellor Philip Hammond was forced to cancel a trade visit to Beijing earlier this year after his erstwhile colleague suggested Britain would send an aircraft carrier to the South China Sea.

The Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims to the waters but China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols.

After Mr Williamson’s comment reportedly incensed the Chinese government, the plug was pulled on Mr Hammond’s trip.

Former army chief General Sir Lord Dannatt described his speech as a “bad diplomatic move”.

6. Breaking parliamentary rules by using Instagram in the House of Commons

Mr Williamson’s love of Instagram is well-documented, but some have compared to him to fictional TV host Alan Partridge because of its mixture of banal posts from his private life and pictures of him taking on Royal Marines drills.

However, it also got him into trouble last year, when he posted a photo from the government frontbench and broke strict rules on taking photos in the chamber of the House of Commons.

Mr Williamson was rebuked about the image by a Commons spokesperson who said: “Where [photography] is seen or reported to be happening the individual in question will be asked to stop and reminded of the rules.”

7. When he was “heckled” by his iPhone

Mr Williamson achieved a parliamentary first when he was, in his own words, “heckled” by his phone during a speech about Isis.

While speaking at the despatch box, he was interrupted by his iPhone’s virtual assistant Siri, which stated: “I found something on the web for ‘in Syria, Syrian democratic forces supported by…’”

An embarrassed Mr Williamson apologised for the “intervention”.