The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which oversees the professional transitions of government ministers to the private sector, has been scrutinized for allowing former Conservative Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to join Cambridge Aerospace. This approval is contingent upon Shapps refraining from involvement in any defense-related matters within his new role as the company’s chair.
Cambridge Aerospace, established shortly after the Conservative Party’s electoral defeat in 2024, focuses on developing technologies aimed at enhancing safety in civilian aviation, as stated by Shapps. However, concerns have been raised regarding the company’s dual positioning in defense technology, with some experts questioning the legitimacy of categorizing its functions as strictly related to civilian aerospace.
Details from a presentation to investors indicate that Cambridge Aerospace is indeed engaged in the defense sector and speaks to the necessity of preparing for new warfare challenges, raising potential conflicts regarding Shapps’s prior access to sensitive information while serving as minister. The company is working on products intended to intercept unmanned aerial threats and is expanding its operations in Europe.
Shapps’s tenure as Defence Secretary fell within a two-year grace period during which former ministers must consult Acoba before taking up new private sector roles. Acoba noted that while Shapps had considerable oversight in defense matters, the lack of direct overlap with his past sensitive information justified the appointment.
Labour MP Phil Brickell has criticized this ruling, suggesting it undermines the integrity of oversight mechanisms. This is echoed by campaign group Transparency International, which has highlighted weaknesses in existing regulations governing former ministers’ transitions into the private sector.
In response to criticism, Shapps stated his commitment to advancing civilian airspace protection and emphasized the company’s objectives of enhancing security and job creation. The implications of this appointment and its alignment with regulatory guidelines continue to be subjects of discussion among political observers and ethics advocates.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/aug/18/watchdog-condemned-for-clearing-grant-shapps-to-join-defence-startup