View all newsletters
Sign up to our newsletters

Support 110 years of independent journalism.

  1. Politics
  2. Media
15 August 2017

10 times James Chapman slammed his former boss David Davis

The Brexit Secretary’s ex-adviser makes damning claims about his work and social life.

By Media Mole

James Chapman, the former DExEU chief-of-staff and Mail journo, has been firing off fascinating allegations on Twitter about his former boss and Brexit Secretary David Davis.

Here are some of the juiciest:

1. Horrifying the Slovakian PM


2. Being too chummy with BBC journalists like Andrew Neil and John Humphrys


3. Working a three-day week


4. Acting “drunk, bullying and inappropriate” with Diane Abbott


5. Ordering someone else to make him plain ham sandwiches (no butter)


6. Ignoring how existing trade deals with non-EU countries would play out


7. Calling up Nigel Farage….


8. …and demanding civil servants saved his number on his office phone


9. Mistaking Michel Barnier for a “far-right” friend on the phone


10. Taking six sugars in his tea, stirred in by someone else

***

Davis himself denies having Farage on speed dial, though admits to having his number. On Good Morning Britain, he referred to Chapman as “dear old James” and said:

“James did a great job as my chief-of-staff, but even the day he arrived he was a Remainer.”

Your mole contacted the Department for Exiting the European Union to find out Davis’ response to Chapman’s other allegations, and was pointed towards his similar comments on Sky News this morning:

“James was a ‘Remainer’ from the beginning, but he was a very good Chief of Staff. I am not going to criticise or argue with him [on air].”

Your mole has also asked BBC News about its presenters’ relationship with the Brexit Secretary. Radio 4 Today programme editor Sarah Sands said on Twitter that Davis and Humphrys have never been on holiday together, and Andrew Neil denies being a regular drinking buddy. They are not providing any further response to Chapman’s claims.

How the Secretary of State takes his tea and sandwiches remains unconfirmed. 

Content from our partners
What is the UK’s vision for its tech sector?
Inside the UK's enduring love for chocolate
Unlocking the potential of a national asset, St Pancras International

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU