Grayling defends ‘taking a risk’ after ferry fiasco
CHRIS GRAYLING has insisted the Government thought it was worth taking a “risk” over Brexit ferry contracts after brushing aside calls to resign as Transport Secretary.
The Cabinet minister faced shouts of “ahoy there” and “peekaboo” from opposition MPs as he arrived in the Commons, a day after failing to appear to answer an urgent question on the controversial £33m payout to Eurotunnel.
The payment was to settle a legal action brought by Eurotunnel after the Government awarded contracts to three ferry companies – one of which had no ships – to transport essential medical supplies from the EU if Britain leaves without a deal in place.
Mr Grayling said decisions on the matter were taken “collectively” by Ministers, although he said they were “deeply sorry” it had not worked out as intended.
Labour accused Mr Grayling of admitting he had “acted in contravention” of legal advice and described him as a “departmental wrecking ball” as they renewed calls on him to resign.
Arriving for the weekly meeting of the Cabinet, Mr Grayling made clear that he had no intention of bowing to opposition demands for him to go.
“I will carry on serving the Prime Minister as long as she wants me to,” he said.
Labour former minister David Hanson, speaking in the Commons after the SNP secured an emergency debate, asked if officials had advised that negotiations solely with ferry companies would result in a legal challenge by Eurotunnel.
Mr Grayling replied: “We knew in accelerating the procurement process there was a legal risk.”
He added: “It was my judgment and the judgment of my accounting officer and the judgment of those who vetted the plan across government that this was a risk we should take we should take given the need to ensure that we had a supply of drugs into the country in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”