Grayling quits security role in wake of leadership ‘coup’

Former transport secretary had been lined up to lead intelligence committee, but lost out to colleague

committee (ISC) after he was unexpectedly snubbed as chairman.

The former transport secretary had been lined up to lead the powerful committee before a Labour and SNP “coup” in July saw Julian Lewis, his Conservative colleague at the time, elected to the post instead.

Dr Lewis, who was the Tory MP for New Forest East, then had the party whip removed after a senior government source accused him of “working with Labour and other opposition MPS for his own advantage”.

It followed criticism that Mr Grayling’s proposed appointment would “make a mockery” of the committee amid fears of a power grab by Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister’s chief adviser, to avoid accountability over their links to Russia outlined in a suppressed report.

Insiders said the events over the summer have “stirred divisions” within the nine-member committee which meant the new chairman is faced with “significant challenges” in trying to “unify” all parties.

A statement from the committee last night said: “The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP has, in accordance with the Justice and Security Act, written to the Chairman of the intelligence and security committee of Parliament tendering his resignation from the committee. The chairman has sent a reply.”

The Telegraph understands Mr Grayling wrote to the chairman and Mark Spencer, the Chief Whip, to say he has “reached the conclusion it will be much easier for the committee to move beyond these divisions if I step down from membership of the committee”.

Another committee member said: “Chris basically decided that he cannot, in good conscience, stay on considering what occurred.

“There are clearly going to be real question marks over whether the committee can operate as it is currently constituted because it’s begun its work in such an unwholesome spirit.

“It’s going to be hard for Julian to retain the faith of the committee moving forward.” The Prime Minister was accused of “parachuting in” the minister to lead the committee, which oversees MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. It had been understood that the other Tory members – Theresa Villiers, Sir John Hayes, Mark Pritchard, and Dr Lewis – would all vote for Mr Grayling.

But at the last minute it emerged that Dr Lewis had voted for himself along with Kevan Jones and Diana Johnson, the Labour MPS, the SNP MP Stewart Hosie and Lord West, the Labour peer.

Dr Lewis insisted that he had never responded to whips about who he would vote for as he considered it an “improper request” as the 2013 Justice and Security Act removed the Prime Minister’s right to choose the committee chairman. “At no earlier stage did I give any undertaking to vote for any particular candidate,” he said.

The next day, Jacob Rees-mogg, the Leader of the House, said he would not rule out a plot to oust Dr Lewis.

‘Chris Grayling basically decided that he cannot, in good conscience, stay on considering what occurred’