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Surely Shapps has ended his tilt before it’s even begun?
From Sky News.
Shapps launches Tory leadership bid
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced he is standing for the leadership of the Conservative Party.
Mr Shapps told The Sunday Times that while he was ruling out a general election, he would produce an emergency budget.
His chancellor would be instructed to cut personal tax for the most vulnerable and give state support to firms with high levels of energy consumption, he added.
He wants to make the economy the biggest in Europe by 2050.
Mr Shapps commented: "I have not spent the last few turbulent years plotting or briefing against the prime minister.
"I have not been mobilising a leadership campaign behind his back. I tell you this: for all his flaws - and who is not flawed? - I like Boris Johnson.
"I have never, for a moment, doubted his love of this country."
Mr Shapps, 53, added: "It is easy to criticise Boris after keeping one's head down for years while being happy to benefit from his patronage.
"I am glad that I did not do that.
"Even as the skies darkened over his premiership, often because of errors committed by him, I hoped he could pull it back.
"Because in losing him, we would lose a man who makes a unique connection with people."
Is that a veiled hint that he’d have him back, as well as a swipe at his former cabinet colleagues?
Party is badly fractured if so.