Gavin Williamson says knighthood is 'immense privilege' and 'humbling'

It was announced by No. 10 Downing Street that the former Secretary of State for Education and South Staffordshire MP had been awarded the knighthood after the Queen agreed to confer the honour onto him on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Williamson was elected to parliament in 2010 and was a parliamentary aide to David Cameron before serving as Theresa May’s chief whip from 2016-17, before serving as defence secretary and education secretary.

A statement from No 10 read: "The Queen has been pleased to approve that the honour of Knighthood be conferred upon The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP."

The 45-year-old said it was an award he had never expected, but felt he was still having to pinch himself after receiving the news.

He said: "I've just absolutely delighted and honoured to have received this and it is just an immense privilege and, to be honest, very humbling.

"You're given a little bit of notice before the official announcement, but you do have to pinch yourself and it doesn't feel real until it's announced."

But school leaders reacted with surprise at the news, with Mr Williamson having presided over the exams fiasco during the Covid crisis.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said headteachers would be “surprised” to learn the news.

He added that the challenges of the pandemic and their impact on 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,” he said.

“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.”

The Prime Minister sacked Mr Williamson from the education role in September and he was previously dumped as defence secretary following an inquiry into a leak from the National Security Council.

It was understood the knighthood is being given on the basis of Mr Williamson's political and public service.

He said he had received the call from someone he knew very well, but it wasn't until he started getting text messages from family, friends and colleagues that he realised the enormity of the announcement.

He said the award was a nice recognition for his public and political service and said he was proud to receive it as a representative of South Staffordshire.

He said: "It's an incredible honour when you receive something like this and especially as someone who has represented South Staffordshire for the last 12 years.

"You're always very focussed on your constituency work and it's been a privilege to serve in Government, whether with David Cameron or chief whip for Teresa May or as defence secretary and education secretary.

"However, the core of what you do is as a constituency MP and serving the local area and I'd like to think that's always been my focus as an MP and I hope to continue doing that for as long as I can."

Mr Williamson said one of the nicest parts of getting the news had been being able to tell his wife Joanne and children Annabel and Grace. He said they and his team were the support for him as an MP.

He said "No one in politics can really do the job they do without the enormous support they get from family and friends and from their whole team, who support me not just in constituency work, but also in the wider community.

"I certainly couldn't have done the things I have done during some incredibly tough times without their support.

"In terms of critics, I don't focus on the negatives and the glass is always half-full, so I just think this award is very humbling and I am delighted to have received it."