Defence Secretary Grant Shapps confirms the death of his father, aged 91

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that his father Tony has passed away at the age of 91.

In a social media post, the Conservative minister wrote:” A tough few days saying goodbye to my dad, who passed away Sunday evening. At 91, he remained as upbeat and optimistic as ever right until the end.

“He will be hugely missed by me, our entire family, and all who knew him. May his memory be a blessing.”

MPs from all political parties passed on their condolences in the Commons on Monday, where Shapps had been due to take part in his first Defence Questions session after being appointed in the role by Rishi Sunak.

In an interview with Jewish News, Shapps told how his parents brought him up in a “more traditional, than practicing” Jewish household in Croxley Green, Watford.

“We belong to the orthodox United Synagogue anyway,” he said. “But I didn’t grow up in a particularly Jewish part of the world at that time.

“I was born in Croxley Green then we moved to Moor Park. But it wasn’t like we were surrounded by other Jewish families. I went to Watford Grammar School. So I wasn’t in Golders Green or Edgware or somewhere.

“It wasn’t like that at all. But as a family, our identity was always as a traditional Jewish family in as much as we are loosely observant, you know… Friday night dinners, shul a couple of times a year.”

The cabinet minister’s dad had run an audio video equipment business with his wife Beryl until he retired aged 76.

He survived a battle with Covid two years ago after picking up the virus while he was being treated in hospital.

Shapps told at the time how he was unable to visit the retired businessman for two months due to pandemic restrictions.