Rishi Sunak did not ‘intervene’ in Johnson’s honours list, cabinet minister Grant Shapps insists | Politics News

Cabinet minister Grant Shapps has insisted Rishi Sunak did not intervene “at all” in Boris Johnson’s honours list as he claimed the world had “moved on”.

Mr Shapps, the energy secretary, said there were now “different challenges to face” and that Downing Street was “under new management”.

“We’ve got new management in Number 10, getting on with the job and getting on with the priorities of this country,” he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme.

Mr Shapps spoke following Mr Johnson’s dramatic decision to resign as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip on Friday, triggering a by-election in his constituency – a key target for Labour.

The former prime minister announced his decision after receiving the privileges committee report into whether he lied to MPs over partygate – something he branded a “kangaroo court” and “witch hunt”.

It came just hours after his resignation honours list had been published, with the names key allies Nadine Dorries, Sir Alok Sharma and Nigel Adams absent.

In a move that will create a headache for Rishi Sunak, Ms Dorries, the former culture secretary, and Mr Adams, a former minister, both announced they would stand down from their seats, creating a hattrick of by-elections.