The former education secretary, who was twice sacked from the Cabinet and oversaw the exams fiasco during the Covid pandemic, is to be knighted. Downing Street said on Thursday that the Queen has approved the honour from Boris Johnson for Tory MP Gavin Williamson, who was widely criticised for a series of errors as education secretary.
The Prime Minister sacked Mr Williamson from that role in September and he was previously dumped as defence secretary following an inquiry into a leak from the National Security Council. No 10, asked why the knighthood was being announced now and not part of an honours list, said it was a political appointment by the Conservative Party.
A statement said: "The Queen has been pleased to approve that the honour of Knighthood be conferred upon The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP."
It was understood the knighthood was being given to Gavin Williamson on the basis of his political and public service. A gathering held in the education department under his watch during Covid restrictions was investigated by senior civil servant Sue Gray, but was ultimately not part of the police inquiry.
Mr Williamson reportedly gave a short speech at the event on December 10, 2020, while London was under Tier 2 measures banning social mixing between households.
The head of a major education union has expressed surprise at the move.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "School and college leaders will be surprised to learn that Gavin Williamson has been given a knighthood. The challenges of the pandemic and the implications for education would have been challenging for any education secretary, and this needs to be recognised.
"But the experience of schools and colleges of Mr Williamson during his tenure as education secretary was one of endless muddle, inevitable U-turns, and even threats of legal action to override local decisions.
"This was not all Mr Williamson's fault. The hand of Downing Street was detectable amidst the chaos too. However, many parents will share our surprise that his record in this role warrants the conferring of a knighthood."
Labour's shadow health secretary Wes Streeting tweeted: "Reward for failure. Shameless."
Former Lib Dem education spokesperson Layla Moran questioned why Gavin Williamson had been knighted for doing "an abominable job".
Ms Moran, who is MP for Oxford West and Abingdon and now the Lib Dem spokesperson for foreign affairs and international development, tweeted: "One does have to wonder... does Williamson know where all the (horcruxes) are hidden... I can't think of any other reason why he has been honoured for doing such an abominable job."
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