Shapps faces travel trade backlash as he joins Tory leadership race

As Grant Shapps threw his hat into the ring to become the next Conservative prime minister, some questioned his record.

There are doubts about his lack of support for the travel industry during the Pandemic.

Shapps confirmed last week that he was going to become the next PM after Boris Johnson resigned.

He declared himself as a problem-solver with a proven record of delivery, as up to a dozen MPs declared themselves as leadership candidates.

The response from the trade was critical.

Mark Swords from Swords Travel asked if they could deliver. What does that mean? Our transport system is a mess because of the neglect and mess you left us. There will be nothing left of this country if you don't get in.

Richard said that anyone connected to airlines, tour operators or travel agents wouldn't vote for you. I hope you do the same as we did, you shut us down first and we were the last to open up, so I wish you the best.

The failure to respond appropriately is to blame for the current issues, according to the Kuoni chief executive.

The head of one of the country's leading airline services companies said that Shapps and Sunak should be blamed for the delays at airports.

Philipp Joeinig, chief executive of Menzies Aviation, which provides check-in services, baggage handling and refuelling for airlines, argued that the staff shortages affecting the industry were preventable.

Joeinig wrote in The Times that the government's decision to refuse to intervene to stop huge job losses in the industry after the end of the furlough support programme was a big negative impact.

Shapps refused requests from the sector and Sunak did not treat the aviation industry as special.

Tens of thousands of flights from the UK are being canceled this summer because of a staff shortage at UK airports.

Delays in getting security clearance for new workers have made it difficult for airlines, airports, and ground handling companies to bring back staff to previous levels.

Joeinig called on the UK government to recognize aviation as a special case and allow the sector to recruit from a wider pool of candidates outside the UK.

Staffing issues affecting the whole market are not the reason for the current travel disruption. This was predictable and preventable.

There was a reduction in the available pool of employees as a result of the EU's decision to leave the bloc. During the Pandemic, the British aviation sector suffered huge job losses, with many of these people lost to the industry, because of the end of the furlough scheme.