Boris Johnson erased from Grant Shapps spaceport pictureon January 10, 2023 at 12:34 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

The former PM is missing from a photo posted by the business secretary of a Spaceport Cornwall visit.

Grant Shapps twitter picImage source, Grant Shapps

Business Secretary Grant Shapps has denied doctoring a picture on his Twitter feed to remove former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Shapps posted a picture of a ministerial visit to Spaceport Cornwall, as he hailed the first rocket launch from UK soil.

But social media users spotted that Mr Johnson, who also went on the trip in 2021, had disappeared from the picture.

Mr Shapps says he wasn’t aware it had been edited and has now deleted it.

An identical photo remains on the Number 10 Flickr account, dated 9 June 2021.

Grant Shapps and Boris Johnson at Spaceport Cornwall

Image source, Virgin Orbit

It shows Mr Johnson and Mr Shapps side-by-side in Cornwall during a visit to LauncherOne.

The then-Conservative leader is wearing a jacket emblazoned with the words: “Prime Minister”.

A source close to Mr Shapps said: “Grant wasn’t aware anyone had edited the picture.

“He removed it as soon as it was pointed out. Obviously he wouldn’t endorse anyone rewriting history by removing the former PM from a picture.”

The first ever satellite mission launched from UK soil ended in failure on Monday, after the rocket suffered an “anomaly”.

A jumbo jet operated by the American Virgin Orbit company carried a rocket out of Newquay, Cornwall, to release it over the Atlantic Ocean. The rocket ignited and appeared to be ascending correctly, before the mission failed.

The satellites it was carrying could not be released and were lost.

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Thierry Mugler: French fashion designer dies aged 73on January 24, 2022 at 4:42 am

The French fashion designer created pieces for David Bowie, Sharon Stone and Lady Gaga.Image source, Getty ImagesFrench fashion designer Thierry Mugler has died at...

What equipment was left behind by US forces?on August 31, 2021 at 1:48 pm

As US troops took off from Kabul, they abandoned 73 aircraft - all disabled.

Premier League Summer Series: Chelsea beat Fulham to win pre-season tournamenton July 30, 2023 at 9:24 pm

Chelsea beat Fulham to win the Premier League Summer Series as Aston Villa and Brentford played out an exciting 3-3 draw in Washington.Chelsea beat...

School tutoring: One third of £594m post-lockdown cash unspenton April 23, 2023 at 11:01 pm

Education experts say the national tutoring programme helped some pupils but could have reached more.By Alix Hattenstone & Jonathan FaggBBC NewsAbout one third of...

Barristers voting on all-out strike callon August 21, 2022 at 1:21 am

The industrial action, which follows weeks of walkouts in England and Wales, would start on 5 September.Image source, Getty ImagesBarristers are voting on proposals...