Shapps says politics has ‘moved on’ from ‘drama’ of Johnson and Brexit
Politics has “moved on” from the “drama” of the Boris Johnson era, according to a Cabinet minister, who also played down speculation about the former prime minister making a swift return to Westminster.
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps,whoservedinmrjohnson’s cabinet, said he does not think the former Tory leader is inthe“mindset”tofightthenext general election.
It comes after Johnson ally Sir Jacob Rees-mogg said the ex-incumbent of No 10, who quit the Commons on Friday in protest against an MPS’ inquiry intopartygate,couldcontestthe next election for the Conservative Party and would be in “pole position”duringafutureleadership contest.
In an article for the Mail On Sunday, Sir Jacob said there could be a Tory "civil war” if the party tried to “block” him from standing.
Mr Shapps told the BBC’S Sundaywithlaurakuenssbergprogramme: “There is no kind of chanceofhimcomingbackand saying, 'Right, now I’m going to stand again’.
“Fromwhatiunderstand,even he has said he doesn’t want to do that. So we are rather in the realms of the hypothetical.”
Mr Shapps said Mr Johnson would have been “perfectly entitledtoremainasanmp”but “decided to step down”.
He told Sky News’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: “Ithinkpeoplearoundthecountry inside and outside the party recognise that Boris was somebody with many qualities.
“But we are now in a world where there are different challenges to face and we’ve got new managementinno10gettingon with the job and getting on with the priorities of this country.
“I think the world has moved on from what was quite a dramatic period under Brexit and of course under the issues relatedtocovid,thevaccinesandthe rest of it.”
He said the UK is in a “calmer period” under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who he said is “doing proper Conservative things” in aresponsetomrjohnsonaccusdon’tmissthedrama”ofhispremiership. ing the government of ditching 2019 manifesto pledges.
Mr Shapps also said he disagrees with Mr Johnson’s criticism of the Commons Privileges Committee’s investigation into whether he misled MPS when he said Covid rules were followed in Downing Street during the pandemic despite lockdown-busting parties taking place.
Mr Johnson attacked the seven-person panel on Friday as he resigned as an MP, accusing them of a “witch hunt” and likening the panel to a “kangaroo court”.
But Mr Shapps said he has “no reason” to support the accusations, denying suggestions the investigation was motivated by a desire to reverse Brexit. The former Tory chairman said, while Mr Johnson had successes as prime minister,hethinks“peoplebothinthe Conservative Party and outside Tobias Ellwood, Conservative chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said Mr Johnson’s attack on the partygate probe and the manner of his exit was “akin to mutiny”.
The former minister told GB News: “It is a grave moment for ourparty.johnsonquitnotonly kicking the milk bottles on the way out but rallying other MPS to follow in order to inflict maximum damage to the party he claims to support.”
Police and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have warned people in the area to stay indoors and close all windows and doors.
A fleet of coaches were on standby to evacuate residents from a care home after a wildfire reached within just 100 yards from the premise, a councillor has said.
Flames ripped through part of the Highlands on Saturday, reportedlycoveringanareaup to a mile long.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze near the village of Daviot, about seven miles south east from Inverness, at 2.45pm on Saturday.
Yesterday, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) confirmed crews were still at the scene to ensure the area is safe.
Councillorforinvernesssouth Duncan Macpherson said the regionhasseenaboutofdry,hot weather which has left woodland “timber dry” which led to “asubstantialfire.”
"The moment the
flames