When Grant Shapps scrubbed a reference to his O-levels from Wikipedia the Tory chairman noted in the edit that information about his exams was “not verifiable”, before later telling journalists that — rather than correct the entry — he deleted the information because he had “five not four O-levels”.
But a breakdown provided by his alma mater to the editor of the Welwyn Hatfield Times provides a more plausible motivations for Shapps’ censorship — that he failed his science exam. Indeed, when the story of Shapps’ edits broke a year ago this month his spokesman refused to tell journalists what grades he had attained.
Contrary to the Shapps’ initial claims to journalists, it turns out he had six O-levels, not five. The episode can be added to the charge sheet for Westminster’s leading spiv:
- Using a false identity to operate dubious “get rich quick” schemes
- Posting political propaganda under false names
- Accusations of faking testimonials for his business
- Using computer program to artificially inflate his Twitter following
In a strategy he has employed before, the author of “Stinking Rich” tried to “own the joke” over exam results by posing for a photo with his school record.