Former Conservative defense secretary Sir Grant Shapps has resigned from his position at a prominent aerospace company amid concerns that he violated regulations regarding employment for former government officials.
The 57-year-old, who served in various roles in the cabinets of Cameron, Johnson, Truss, and Sunak, stepped down as the chair of Cambridge Aerospace on April 30. This decision followed the firm’s acquisition of a substantial government missile contract.
Shapps, a former defense minister under Rishi Sunak, initially asserted that his responsibilities at the company were limited to civilian aerospace. However, the company later shifted its focus towards defense activities.
New correspondence released on Tuesday revealed that Sir Laurie Magnus, the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, had advised Shapps to amend his public profiles, including his LinkedIn page, to accurately reflect his position at the defense company.
According to regulations on post-ministerial employment, former ministers are prohibited from lobbying the government for two years after leaving office and must seek approval from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) for any external job offers.
In a letter dated May 12, Shapps acknowledged the evolving global landscape and the blurring lines between military and civilian aerospace, noting recent geopolitical events as influencing factors. He expressed regret for not seeking updated advice from ACOBA as the company’s activities changed.
While admitting his oversight, Shapps categorically denied any involvement in securing the Ministry of Defence contract and emphasized that he did not utilize insider information, lobby the government, or leverage his connections for personal gain.
Sir Laurie Magnus criticized Shapps on May 19 for allowing a perception of impropriety to develop, failing to seek fresh advice regarding his changing role, and neglecting to correct public information about Cambridge Aerospace and his role within the company.
Shapps, the former Conservative MP for Welwyn Hatfield, lost his seat in the last General Election to Labour’s Andrew Lewin.
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