Britain's May replaces defence minister in growing harassment scandal

Reuters

British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to appoint a new defense minister on Thursday after her loyal ally Michael Fallon quit in a sexual harassment scandal that has prompted calls for an end to the "locker room" culture in parliament.

Just hours after Fallon resigned over past behavior he said had fallen "below the high standards we require of the armed forces", May appointed Gavin Williamson, 41, a rising star in her ruling Conservative Party.

Weakened after losing her parliamentary majority in a June election that many Conservatives blame on her, May had to move swiftly.

The growing harassment scandal threatens to undermine her further if other allegations against Conservatives, including against her deputy Damian Green, force more resignations.

"Gavin Williamson was an excellent and hard-working chief whip and the prime minister thinks he will make an excellent defense secretary," a spokesman for May told reporters.

The spokesman also denied suggestions that Williamson, who according to one lawmaker harbours leadership ambitions, had pushed for his appointment, saying he was not involved in reshuffle discussions.

Williamson has risen quickly up the ranks of the Conservatives and is loyal to May after she selected him last year as the party's chief whip in parliament - a role in which he is tasked with maintaining voting discipline on legislation.

But he has no former experience of the armed forces, according to his online profile, and Howard Wheeldon, a defense analyst, said he was "bound to worry about the depth of experience in such a vital area as defense".

As chief whip, Williamson was renowned for his toughness and for introducing lawmakers to his pet tarantula Cronus, named after the god of time who swallowed each of his children according to Greek mythology.

He told Conservative members at the party's annual conference earlier this year: "I don't very much believe in the stick, but it's amazing what can be achieved with a sharpened carrot."

Williamson said nothing as he arrived at the Ministry of Defense on Thursday, taking on the role at a difficult time for May, who since June's election is dependent on the support of a small Northern Irish party for a majority in parliament.

Fallon's resignation after he apologized for touching a female radio presenter's knee in 2002, was yet another blow.

Described by Conservative sources as a political "Rottweiler", Fallon was a trusted minister able to robustly face down criticism of the government.

Britain's parliament is the latest institution to become embroiled in a sex scandal after abuse allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein prompted thousands of women and men to share stories about improper behavior.

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Conservatives in Scotland, said it was time to break with a culture in politics where powerful people "use positions of power to demand things from others".

"The dam has broken on this now, and these male-dominated professions where the boys-own locker room culture has prevailed and it's all been a bit of a laugh, have got to stop," she told the BBC.

Allegations of sexual abuse have ranged from a charge of rape by an activist in the opposition Labour Party by a senior party member, to unconfirmed details of serial "sex pests" on a list reportedly drafted by aides and researchers in parliament.

May has ordered investigations into a report that one of her ministers asked a female secretary to buy sex toys and an allegation that her deputy, Green, made an inappropriate sexual advance on a young woman - something he denies.