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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Rob Davies and Jasper Jolly

Watchdog criticised for clearing ex-defence secretary Shapps to join missile maker

Sir Grant Shapps walks near Downing Street wearing a blue suit.
Grant Shapps joined Aerospace on the condition that he did not work on matters related to defence. Photograph: James Manning/PA

The watchdog that monitors government ministers’ professional appointments after leaving office has been criticised for clearing Grant Shapps, a former Conservative defence secretary, to join Cambridge Aerospace 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 defence company Cambridge Aerospace.

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