In news that will disappoint all his friends lobbying on behalf of defence contractors, the Telegraph is reporting that Gerald Howarth MP will remain in the MOD but is being shifted so that he will have no responsibility for Defence procurement.  Taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief…

See also : Minister for the Arms Trade, Minister’s Murky Missile Mate

UPDATE : The Sunlight Centre welcomes today’s decision not to put Gerald Howarth MP in charge of the nation’s defence procurement:

“Mr Howarth’s lobbying connections with the industry would have made it impossible for the public to be sure they were getting the best deal in this already controversial market. For the sake of propriety the decision to remove him from defence procurement was the right thing to do.”

As yet Defra has not confirmed that Caroline Spelman will recuse herself from dealing with issues that effect her former lobbying clients…