Former defence secretary allowed to take role as chair of Cambridge Aerospace, as long as he avoids defence matters
The parliamentary standards body has been criticised for clearing Grant Shapps, a former Conservative defence secretary, to join a defence startup as long as he promises not to work on defence matters.
In a ruling that drew scorn from political ethics experts, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which monitors and advises on the revolving door between Westminster and the business sector, gave Shapps the green light to become the chair of Cambridge Aerospace.
Shapps told Acoba that the company, founded three months after the Conservatives’ general election defeat last year, planned to “develop technologies to reduce risks to aviation”. Disclosures show he cited examples such as airport delays caused by drones.
Acoba, which is due to be scrapped amid allegations that it is “toothless”, agreed he could take up the position, providing “strategic direction and high level advice”, on condition that he did not work on matters related to defence.
