Rishi Sunak appoints Grant Shapps Secretary of Defense Photo: Simon Walker/10 Downing Street
Rishi Sunak played it safe with Grant Shapps, who seems to value experience and loyalty in choosing a new secretary of defense.
Ben Wallace, the man who officially resigned from this post on Thursday morning, but made clear his departure well before of this, was chosen by inheritance by Mr. Sunak.
He was one of Boris Johnson's closest allies and had run-ins with Mr. Sunak when the latter was chancellor as they argued over how much to increase spending on defense.
But the continuity he offered as Britain continued to help Ukraine fend off the Russian invasion, as well as the political need for a «unity» cabinet after the collapse of Liz Truss, allowed him to remain in office.
That means Thursday he will remain in office.
The early morning announcements represent the first time the prime minister, in 10 months in office, has been given a free hand in choosing who he wants to head the Defense Department.< /p> Grant Shapps
One quality that is sure to grab attention is loyalty. Mr. Schapps backed Mr. Sunak in both contests for the Conservative leadership last year, albeit for the first time since a brief vacillation in the top job.
The prime minister, despite his difficulties in the polls , — Tory 18 percentage points behind the Labor Party in the poll average is a surprisingly strong position at home.
The politician most likely trying to stage a coup to take over Downing Street, Boris Johnson, is now a former president. Member of Parliament, which means there is no real path back to leadership in the short term.
Even ardent supporters of Johnson and Truss, many of whom still grit their teeth in private when asked about Sunak, doubt that voters will approve another change of leader before the expected general election next year.
Thus, he has enough authority within the party to promote those he knows are on its side. Claire Coutinho, a close political friend, was promoted to replace Mr. Shapps as the new Minister of Energy Security.
Do you think Grant Shapps would make a good Secretary of Defense? A chaotic 12 months
Mr. Schapps' experience in the cabinet would give him an edge over other leading candidates for the position.
However, the last 12 months have been chaotic for him: removed from the position of Minister of Transportation, six days as Minister of the Interior, five months as Minister of Business, six months as Minister of Energy Security, and now the transition to defense.
Five cabinet roles in a year — has anyone in recent British politics been able to match this revolving door record?
But this change of cadres is a reflection of the crazy year of the Westminster upheavals that was 2022. His cabinet experience goes far beyond that.
Mr. Shapps spent three years visiting David Cameron's cabinet as chairman of the Conservative Party, and another three years as a transport. secretary under Boris Johnson, and between them from time to time they plotted on the bench during the premiership of Theresa May.
Assuming the post of head of the Ministry of Defense at this stage is a serious responsibility, as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues into its second year, and the West's resolve to support Kiev continues to be tested.
Ben, you were a very solid figure for our country, our party and the Ukrainian people.
You have defined what it means to serve your country. Thank you @BWallaceMP.
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) August 31, 2023
The rumored name John Glen only entered the cabinet last year. Jeremy Quinn, another one, was not at the top table. Others had experience in the cabinet, but were fraught with difficulties.
However, Mr Shapps lacks significant defense experience — and this is likely to come under the spotlight as his appointment will be discussed in the media and in Westminster in the coming days.
But he has many years of work in the Cabinet of Ministers behind him.
An experienced and proven media artist
Other realities could be a factor. Mr. Shapps is a tried and tested media artist. Even Liz Truss told him that he was the best ministerial communicator in the party at the meeting marking his dismissal as secretary of transport last September.
The wayward words of any cabinet minister could give Number 10 a headache . The word of the secretary of defense during a war in Europe can do much more damage.
So the assurance that misses are unlikely would be a welcome commodity.
Six months in an energy security review is a trip so closely linked to events in Ukraine, given how Russia has weaponized its oil and gas supplies, was no doubt an advantage as Mr. Sunak weighed his options.
Indeed, in retrospect, the trip Schapps to Ukraine That last week he became the first cabinet minister other than the prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister to visit the country since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022 should have come as a surprise.
There is a year left before the meeting. general elections and the global importance of British defense support to Ukraine, Rishi Sunak has chosen a reliable pair of hands.
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