Hiring Dannatt “a gimmick”, says Chris Grayling

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

UPDATE: The Wall Street Journal says Grayling is “set for a flogging” over his gaffe.

David Cameron is courting General Sir Richard Dannatt as a potential Junior Defence Minister as one of the record 45 new peers he will enoble if he takes the reigns at Number 10 next year.

But Chris Grayling, Cameron’s Home Affairs Spokesman, was unaware of the discussions between his boss and Dannatt, and told the BBC:

“I hope this in’t a gimmick from Gordon Brown…it sounds like a gimmick.”

Nick Robinson says:

“what Mr Grayling dismissed as a “gimmick” was originally planned to be the major new announcement in David Cameron’s speech tomorrow.”

Oops indeed!