Grant Shapps criticises Tories’ ‘endless political soap opera’ as he loses seat to Labour

A visibly shocked Grant Shapps panned the Tories’ “endless political soap opera” after losing his seat to Labour.

Mr Shapps, the former defence secretary, was ousted by Labour in Welwyn Hatfield, a constituency he has represented since 2005. Labour won the seat with 19,877 votes. Mr Shapps came second with just over 16,000.

In his concession speech he said: “It’s not so much that Labour won this election, but rather that the Conservatives have lost it.

“Instead we’ve tried the patience of traditional Conservative voters with a propensity to create an endless political soap opera out of internal rivalries and divisions which have become increasingly indulgent and entrenched.”

He added: “Today voters have simply said: ‘If you can’t agree with each other, then we can’t agree to vote for you.’

“We forgot a fundamental rule of politics: that people do not vote for divided parties.”

During Mr Shapps’ 19 years as MP for the Hertfordshire constituency, he held seven ministerial posts although he only lasted six days as Home Secretary in October 2022.

Mr Shapps, a Remain voter, said after the vote to leave the EU that his mission was to make Brexit work for the UK.

His appointment as Defence Secretary was not universally welcomed. With no military experience his elevation to the Ministry of Defence was said to have caused a stir in some military circles.

Speaking at the time of his appointment, Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, worried the defence debate would “stagnate” until Mr Shapps got his head around the portfolio.

Mr Shapps used his speech to warn Labour about the importance of remaining steadfast in Britain’s support for Ukraine.

He said: “I am concerned that unless [Labour] quickly commits to spending 2.5pc on defence, our armed forces may suffer and so will our friends in Ukraine.

“If there’s something that I’m incredibly proud about in Britain today, it’s our staunch and unwavering support for Ukraine and its democracy, and that must never waver, even through a change of government here at home.”

Speaking to The Telegraph after the declaration, Andrew Lewin, the new MP for Welwyn Hatfield, said defence was safe in Labour’s hands.

“Labour is the party that took us into NATO and Keir Starmer has been clear about our unshakeable commitment to Nato and our allies,” he said.

“Support for Ukraine and democracy and freedom is something that should transcend party politics.”

A Conservative party source told The Telegraph this is unlikely to be the last the electorate has seen of Mr Shapps.

“He’s ambitious and he’s good at it,” the source said.