Grayling out, Shapps in – but is the new transport minister any sharper?

Error-prone UK transport secretary Chris “failing” Grayling is out: one of the many changes in the Cabinet yesterday, as new prime minister Boris Johnson made his presence felt.

Mr Grayling developed a reputation for ineptitude for decisions that included awarding a company with no ferries a ferry contract. According to the Labour party, Mr Grayling has cost the taxpayer and UK economy £2.7bn through his various errors.

The Loadstar also questioned his support of a US developer’s bid to acquire Manston Airport, in Kent, bringing further queries from shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald.

Now he has been replaced by Grant Shapps, who, ironically for a transport minister, struggled to find the door when he arrived at Downing Street.

And there are some who claim Mr Shapps will prove as effective as his predecessor.

Allegations have swirled around him in the press, with claims running from the rather pathetic to the rather more serious.

Perhaps most worrying was his resignation in November 2015 as Minister for the Department for International Development in the wake of claims he appeared to have ignored allegations of bullying within the Conservative party before the death of a young activist.

The Guardian has accused him of editing his Wikipedia page to remove embarrassing moments from his past, and following years of denial, and threats of legal action against those making the claims, Mr Shapps has admitted he had been working a second job, as a web marketeer under the name Michael Green.