Shapps to voters - "We hear you. We understand."

In previous parliaments the LDs have been the protest party. Today, says Grant Shapps, it's UKIP.

Speaking on Sky News the Tory Chairman denied that there was a simple solution to UKIP's growth. He defended Britain's membership of the EU and said Europe was not UKIP voters' main concern (something recently verified by Lord Ashcroft's polling).

Asked to comment on this unfortunate choice of photo that accompanied an article on benefits uprating that IDS has written for today's Sun, Mr Shapps said that vast majority of people on benefits were victims of a system that penalised a graduation from welfare to work and the Coalition was correcting that with its Universal Credit.

> In an earlier Sky interview, Nigel Farage claimed it was not "odd" to believe in control of immigration or leaving Europe. He urged Cameron to stop being "rude" about UKIP members.

Grant Shapps tells Michael Crick that his former work testimonials were genuine

Talking to Sky News, Grant Shapps MP gives £100,000 to 12 high streets to reward innovative thinking

Report on Local Government blog.

Grant Shapps: Landlords evicting tenants to profit from the Olympics is "absolutely illegal"

Grant Shapps: Ed Miliband's interview with Andrew Marr was "one of the most disingenuous interviews I've seen all year"

Grant Shapps promises jail for some tenants who profit from sub-letting social housing

Grant Shapps: Scrapping the 50p tax rate has to be prioritised in this current economic climate

 

Grant Shapps: I didn't pull out of a Today interview - and we will build more homes

Grant Shapps: "It is important for ministers to separate different parts of their life"