A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon “Blackjack” on display at the Royal International Air Tattoo (UK MoD)
BELFAST — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has named now-former energy secretary Grant Shapps as his new defense secretary, succeeding Ben Wallace after four years in the role.
Shapps’ selection stands out as a relative surprise, as, unlike Wallace, Shapps has no military experience and as it is the fifth cabinet role for the new appointee in less than a year, having also held the titles of business secretary, home secretary and transportation secretary.
In a social media post today, Shapps said he was “looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces” and “continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.”
Shapps serves as a member of parliament for Welwyn Hatfield, Hertfordshire in southern England. He previously courted some controversy, resigning from a prior post as international development minister in the wake of reported bullying allegations within the Conservative party.
During a visit to Kyiv earlier this month, Shapps met with senior Ukrainian government and energy industry officials as the UK pledged funding of £192 million ($243 million) for Ukraine to buy nuclear fuel through an export finance loan. London said in a statement at the time, the funding would help Ukraine maintain fuel supplies over winter and end the country’s reliance on supplies from Russia.
As transportation secretary, Shapps helped write Britain’s maritime security strategy, published last August, which aimed in part to boost the UK’s presence in the Indo-Pacific.
Speaking on Sky News about the new political appointment, former UK chief of the general staff, Richard Dannatt, said Shapps “knows very little about defense” and warned “it will take him quite some time to get up to speed.”
Wallace announced to the Sunday Times in July that he would quit as UK defense secretary and also stand down as a member of parliament during the next cabinet reshuffle.
His decision arrived after NATO members voted to extend the term of Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, by another year. Wallace had been touted as a favorite to succeed the former Norwegian prime minister.
In a resignation letter published today, Wallace said, “it has been an honour to serve alongside the men and women of our Armed forces and intelligence services who sacrifice so much for our security.”
Writing of his main achievements during his time as defense secretary, he added, “I am proud that I have secured GCAP [Global Combat Air Programme], AUKUS, NCF [National Cyber Force], National shipbuilding and the Defence and Security industrial strategies that will secure thousands of British jobs for our young people many years into the future.”
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