Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has informed the BBC that she is leading “a brand new party full of new people” following reports in the Spectator that former cabinet minister and Tory party chairman Sir Grant Shapps has been refused a spot as a Conservative parliamentary candidate.
Sir Grant, who has not issued a comment, has held nine ministerial positions and previously served as co-chair of the party.
His extensive cabinet experience includes serving as Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Transport Secretary, Business Secretary, Energy Secretary, and Net Zero Secretary.
Additionally, he has held roles as Foreign Office Minister, Housing Minister, and International Development Minister.
After representing Welwyn Hatfield since 2005, he lost the seat to Labour’s Andrew Lewin by a margin of 3,799 votes during the 2024 election.
Despite his tenure, his application to contest a seat for the Conservatives in the upcoming general election has been rejected.
A party source commented to the BBC that the decision “reflects badly on Kemi’s temperament. North Korean purges don’t work in British politics.”
Speaking at a press conference in central London, Badenoch stated, “We don’t treat our former MPs or our candidates like tittle-tattle for Westminster gossip.
“What I will say is that we’re going to be announcing candidates shortly, and you will see that this is a very different party from the one that was removed from government in 2024.”
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