Ex-defence secretary attacks May’s Brexit talks with Labour – and it’s not just sour grapes
Cassandra: Gavin Williamson.
This is a reasonable argument – easily discredited because of the source.
Gavin Williamson was ousted as Defence Secretary after it was alleged that he leaked concerns about national security about Huawei’s contract to help build the UK’s 5G communications network.
He has made it clear that he does not accept the claims about him, and that he considers himself to be a scapegoat for someone else.
So now he has criticised Theresa May’s attempt to build a consensus Brexit deal with Labour, it is easy to dismiss his argument as an attempt to get back at his former boss.
That’s a bad idea because it is a perfectly valid criticism.
True, Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t really need to “divide, disrupt and frustrate” the Conservatives – they’re doing very well at that themselves.
But Labour’s idea of Brexit is far from the Tory vision, so there is no reason to believe that the two parties can come to any lasting mutual agreement.
Mr Williamson, by playing the “Cassandra” role – the oracle who predicts disaster to people who won’t listen – is lining himself up to say “I told you so” if the talks fall apart.
Then he’ll be able to present himself as the clever one – who saw it coming and tried to prevent it.
It’s good positioning, with a leadership campaign on the way, don’t you think?
Gavin Williamson has attacked Theresa May as “naive” and warned that her Brexit talks with Labour are a “grave mistake”.
The former defence secretary, who was sacked over a leak of National Security Council talks on Huawei, said the talks were “destined to fail”.
Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: “Even if Labour do a deal, break bread with the prime minister and announce that both parties have reached an agreement, it can only ever end in tears.
“The Labour Party does not exist to help the Conservative Party. Jeremy Corbyn will do all he can to divide, disrupt and frustrate the Conservatives in the hope of bringing down the government.
“His goal, and he has made no secret of it, is to bring about a general election.”
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I thought Williamson had been sent back to his primary school playground. Perhaps he can return to selling toilets etc.