UK premier under fire over defense appointment

British Prime Minister Theresa May faced stinging criticism after naming her party chief whip Gavin Williamson as the country's new defense minister.

Williamson -- who has never held a ministerial portfolio -- will replace Sir Michael Fallon who quit on Wednesday night amid a growing sexual harassment scandal surrounding British lawmakers.

However, the appointment of Williamson -- who has been one of the prime minister's most trusted acolytes -- also received criticism from inside her Conservative Party.

Williamson has never run a government department, has no military links, and has never spoken in parliament from the dispatch box.

May faced criticism as she also promoted Williamson's deputy, Justin Smith, as the new chief whip, responsible for maintaining order among lawmakers.

"There are times when offered a job that it would be better to advise that another would be more experienced & suited to the role," Sarah Wollaston, a Conservative lawmaker tweeted.

"Gavin has been an extremely likeable and respected chief whip, but part of the role of the chief whip is to advise the prime minister on the most experienced and suitable person to take on such an important job as secretary of state for defence," she later added.

The former head of the army, Lord Dannatt has said May's move to name Williamson as new Defence Secretary was "all about bolstering [her] position".