Did Shapps resign to protect Cameron?
It seems that former Tory chairman Grant Shapps, who resigned from the government in disgrace amid accusations he had been warned about bullying in the party before the death of one of its young activists, may have done so to protect David Cameron.
Shapps was forced to quit as a minister for international development after the father of 21-year-old Elliott Johnson claimed his son would still be alive if Shapps and Andrew Feldman, the current Tory chair, had behaved responsibly when made aware of the behaviour of one its senior organisers.
But it has also been revealed that David Cameron had written to Mark Clarke, the Tory at the centre of the allegations of bullying, thanking him for his work running the RoadTrip initiative that ferried activists around the country during the general election campaign. “We quite simply could not have done it without you,” the letter read.
Protecting senior Party members now seems the only reason any Tory bothers to resign and Shapps – already damaged goods due to his previous behaviour – seems to have become the sacrificial lamb.
His claim, “I have come to the conclusion that the buck should stop with me,” seems a clear attempt to draw a line under the case, as far as the Tory leadership is concerned – leaving Cameron’s reputation unblemished by the affair.
Now consider Cameron’s reaction to the allegations, made prior to Shapps’ resignation, according to this Guardian report:
The first sign of Shapps’ downfall came at a press conference at lunchtime on Saturday in Malta, where Commonwealth leaders are attending a summit. Repeatedly asked by reporters to offer the minister his full support, Cameron, who had been due to talk about efforts to combat corruption, pointedly refused to do so.
A visibly discomforted Cameron instead told reporters that he “felt deeply” for the Johnson’s parents. “On Grant Shapps there will be a statement made later on today about that issue,” he said.
Was he distancing himself from his colleague, having already ordered Shapps to fall on his proverbial sword?
Source: Grant Shapps resigns over bullying scandal: ‘the buck should stop with me’ | Politics | The Guardian
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Ha !! Cameron talking about corruption,wants to sort his own party out before talking to anybody else about corruption.What a bloody joke that is.
#Pointtoconsider – Don’t know if anybody will remember this – but part of the conservative promises for this government was to give constituents the power to unseat their sitting MP if they were not happy with his/her conduct – The Bill was drawn up – but then all of a sudden – quietly shelved…was this a reason behind that ???
No doubt I am going to get lambasted for this comment but here goes.
1. The poor lad that committed suicide volunteered for the Hitler Youth, he loved the party, he could have left anytime, the sick and disabled did not volunteer for their condition ( WHERE IS THE MEDIA ).
The Tory’s harass and bully the sick, disabled and poor every day and at every chance they get.
2. Grant S..T should resign not from his position but as an MP.
3. How the f… is the beast of Britain still in his job and not behind bars. IDS has been proved by coroners that he has been implicated in suicides. It seems as always that a middle class tory suicide has a favourable media appetite and more of a concern and importance than thousands of lives being destroyed,and the many deaths by the beast of Britain. IDS must have some sordid blackmail material that would make the 4th Reich fall.
Hear Hear MarkG.
Of course Schapps is the sacrificial goat but what about the other co-chair, who is as culpable as him?
“Andrew Feldman, a friend of David Cameron since they played in the same tennis team at Brasenose College, Oxford, was co-chair of the party between May 2010 and this year’s general election, and has been in sole charge since. He will have to explain why Shapps’ resignation does not also suggest fault on his part” (from the Guardian).
Oh yes, THAT Lord Feldman. That would be Baron Feldman of Elstree, who was such good mates with Cams at Oxford, so much more than just tennis, he got ennobled, and promoted alongside Cams throughout his entire political career. Just as well there was an oik to take the fall, eh?
Schapps is turning into the new Mandy, and we can assume any period of disgrace is purely temporary.
Snake like behaviour from The Bullingdon Bully. Where do think Shapps and his ilk got the gogo to use bully boy tactics. Answers on a postage stamp please.
Sacrificial pig, surely?
And on a more serious note… Got to agree with MarkG – couldn’t shake that (so common) feeling of one suicide v. IDS 5-year spree. Political allegiances aside, really feel for the guy and his family, esp. after the long-read Simon Hattenstone piece in The G. (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/nov/27/elliott-johnson-young-tory-destroyed-by-party-he-loved-mark-clarke\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\0
Thanks for the link. It is most revealing but horrifying.
Wheels within wheels and cameron managing astutely to distance himself.
Duty of care of the conservative party – what about duty of care to the sick, disabled and the poor??
The whole thing stinks. These very priveliged kids who think its all a sleazy game.
Very, very revealing.
I hope Ray, Elliott’s father persists in getting to the bottom of it and exposing it all.
This Shapps/Green/Fox character has only resigned because the nasty bullying has become public knowledge. After all bullying is all part of the normal Tory psyche – as demonstrated by Duncan Smith/Hunt/Gideon Osborne et al.
Short answer, yes, he did resign to protect Camoron because he. like all of his other Etonian buddies, are all closet bullies!