Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has told the BBC she leads "a brand new party full of new people" - after it emerged in the Spectator, external that the former cabinet minister and Tory party chairman Sir Grant Shapps has been rejected as a Conservative Party parliamentary candidate. Sir Grant, who has declined to comment, served in nine ministerial roles in government as well as co-chairing the party. In cabinet, he served as home secretary, defence secretary, transport secretary, business secretary, energy secretary and net zero secretary. He was also a Foreign Office Minister, housing minister and international development minister, external. But his application to stand again for the Conservatives at the next general election has been declined.