Grant Shapps suffers shock defeat and slams 'endless political soap opera'
Grant Shapps has been the MP for Welwyn Hatfield since the 2005 General Election, and was defending a majority just shy of 11,000 votes.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps became one of the biggest Tory casualties of the General Election after a strong Labour challenge.
Mr Shapps slammed the "endless political soap opera" and Conservative in-fighting, warning it has put voters off.
The Tory cabinet minister lost to Labour's Andrew Lewin by more than 3,000 votes.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
A visibly shocked Mr Shapps said in his concession speech: “It’s not so much that Labour won this election, but rather that the Conservatives have lost it.
“On door after door, voters have been dismayed by our ability to iron out our differences in private and do that and then be united in public.
“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.”
The former defence secretary 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.”
