Minister who was slapped down over gaffe is first Boris tsar

THE Minister slapped down by No 10 for suggesting that the PM was suspending Parliament because he has ‘no majority’ had been appointed as the new ‘Boris tsar’ for shipbuilding shortly before his gaffe.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was recorded telling his French counterpart Florence Parly that Boris Johnson had made his move because ‘we’ve suddenly found ourselves with no majority and a coalition, and that’s not easy for our system’.

His remarks contradicted Mr Johnson’s insistence on Wednesday that it was ‘completely untrue’ that Brexit was behind his decision to prorogue the Commons for five weeks in the run-up to the October 31 deadline for EU withdrawal.

No 10 responded by announcing that Mr Wallace had ‘misspoke’. It added that he was not involved in discussions about the Queen’s Speech.

Shortly before the slapdown, Mr Johnson had written to Mr Wallace to say that he was appointing him as a ‘naval shipbuilding tsar’, reporting directly to him.

The move is likely to herald the start of a series of other appointments to tackle issues and sectors which Mr Johnson feels have been neglected by previous administrations.

Mr Johnson told Mr Wallace: ‘The shipbuilding industry is an integral part of UK manufacturing, sustaining thousands of high-skilled, well-paid jobs.

‘But there are problems of poor productivity in naval yards and a record of underinvestment by specific firms. Thank you for agreeing to lead this important national endeavour.’