Rishi Sunak did not ‘intervene’ in Johnson’s honours list, cabinet minister Grant Shapps insists
Cabinet minister Grant Shapps has insisted Rishi Sunak did not intervene in Boris Johnson’s honours list as he claimed the world had “moved on” following his dramatic exit.
Mr Shapps, the energy secretary, said there were now “different challenges to face” and that Downing Street was “under new management”.
“We’ve got new management in Number 10, getting on with the job and getting on with the priorities of this country,” he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.
Mr Shapps spoke following Mr Johnson’s shock decision to resign as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip on Friday, triggering a by-election in his constituency – a key target for Labour.
The former prime minister announced his decision after receiving the privileges committee report into whether he lied to MPs over partygate – something he branded a “kangaroo court” and “witch hunt”.
It came just hours after his resignation honours list had been published, with the names key allies Nadine Dorries, Sir Alok Sharma and Nigel Adams absent.
Labour accuses PM of losing control – politics latest
In a move that will create a headache for Mr Sunak, Ms Dorries, the former culture secretary, and Mr Adams, a former minister, both announced they would stand down from their seats, creating a hattrick of by-elections at a time when the polls are faring badly for the Tories.
Over the weekend there were reports in the Sunday Times that Mr Johnson believed Mr Sunak had broken a promise to wave through the entire list of honours – a charge Downing Street has denied.
But Mr Shapps insisted Mr Sunak made no changes to the list “at all”.
Asked whether he thought Mr Johnson wasn’t fully across the process, he said the former prime minister “occasionally… wouldn’t be all over the details”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Cabinet Minister Grant Shapps has insisted Rishi Sunak did not intervene
“Rishi Sunak has not changed, altered, the list in any way,” he said.
“In fact, there is a House of Commons appointments commission – or Holac as it is called – which looks at all nominations.
“There is a very long-tested protocol in place where former prime ministers put people up for the House of Lords…and the prime minister who comes in usually passes it on.
“In this particular case, because Number 10 has actually published the details, you can see that Rishi did not change that list at all.
“The House of Commons commission will have made all of those decisions and the prime minister has not intervened in any way.”
In an excoriating statement announcing his resignation, the former prime minister said a letter from the privileges committee made clear “that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Nadine Dorries spoke to Sky News after her resignation.
Mr Shapps has said he did not agree with Mr Johnson’s assessment that the committee’s partygate probe was a “witch hunt” and an attempt to reverse Brexit.
“I think far from wanting to undo (Brexit), I think we’re in a phase now of using the many benefits of having that extra flexibility,” he said.
“What I do believe is that it is very important to elect committees, let them get on with their work,” he added.
The message from Number 10? Boris Johnson is yesterday’s man
It was delivered in a characteristically affable manner, but Grant Shapps’ analysis of the ongoing relevance of Boris Johnson was quietly cutting and risks inflaming the tension in the Tory Party.
“The world has moved on… [Boris Johnson] is the one who removed himself from the current political scene… he was the right man for his time”, said the energy secretary.
Asked whether he’d welcome a return to parliament from the former PM, he was less than effusive – and even ran the rule over the government he was once part of, saying Mr Johnson was “occasionally” not across the detail.
Mr Shapps also said the party was “under new management” – a line that’s been previously used by Sir Keir Starmer to sever his leadership from that of Jeremy Corbyn’s.
In the current tense political climate, an intervention like that from a cabinet minister sent out by Downing Street on the Sunday morning media round should not be underplayed.
The broader message from Number 10 appears to be that Boris Johnson is yesterday’s man and Tory politics has moved on.
In the short term, there is clearly a risk of antagonising Johnson allies further and causing more instability.
But in the longer term, this speaks to a broader hope in government that this bumpy period could lead to Mr Johnson finally exiting centre stage along with the psychodrama that frequently follows him around.
Mr Johnson’s decision to quit has reopened questions of a fresh civil war in the Conservative Party, with a number of his allies criticising the privileges committee.
Former Tory Party chair Sir Jake Berry suggested Mr Johnson had been “forced out” by the “establishment” and “the blob”.
“You voted for Brexit – the establishment blocked it,” he tweeted. “You voted for Boris Johnson – the establishment has forced him out.
“Who is in charge here… The voters or the blob?”
The resignations of Ms Dorries and Mr Adams prompted fears of a rebellion among Mr Johnson’s allies, with his supporters claiming that two more MPs are on “resignation watch”.
However, claims by Mr Johnson’s camp that up to six more MPs were poised to quit have failed to materialise so far.
Mr Johnson’s former communications director Guto Harri – who was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the honours list – said he did not believe there was an “elaborate plot to sort of destabilise and topple Rishi Sunak”.
He said the former prime minister is seizing an opportunity to remove himself from politics and “lick his wounds, but also seize new opportunities”.
Asked whether he thought Mr Johnson would stage a political comeback, he added: “We can never write him off.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway