From 20m agoKey events20m agoGrant Shapps confirmed as new defence secretary46m agoGrant Shapps, potential candidate to replace Wallace, enters Downing Street1h agoBen Wallace resigns as defence secretaryFilters BETAKey events (3)Ben Wallace (8)Grant Shapps (5)Boris Johnson (4)Rishi Sunak (4)Liz Truss (3)5m ago04.53 EDT
Grant Shapps said he is “honoured” to become Defence Secretary as he praised Ben Wallace’s time in the role.
Shapps tweeted:
I’m honoured to be appointed as Defence Secretary by Rishi Sunak. I’d like to pay tribute to the enormous contribution Ben Wallace has made to UK defence & global security over the last 4 years.
As I get to work at DefenceHQ I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation’s security. And continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.
I’m honoured to be appointed as Defence Secretary by @RishiSunak
I’d like to pay tribute to the enormous contribution Ben Wallace has made to UK defence & global security over the last 4 years https://t.co/CXWOaYnmUJ
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) August 31, 2023
20m ago04.38 EDTGrant Shapps confirmed as new defence secretary
Grant Shapps has been confirmed as the new defence secretary, after Ben Wallace’s resignation earlier today.
The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has moved quickly to appoint Shapps, who most recently served in the cabinet as the energy security secretary.
He has previously served as the home secretary (for six days in Liz Truss’s ill-fated cabinet), business secretary, transport secretary and chairman of the Tory party, among a number of junior ministerial roles since 2010.
Grant Shapps to MoD. pic.twitter.com/n389QWAKZ2
— Peter Walker (@peterwalker99) August 31, 2023
Wallace had served for just over two years before stepping down this morning, ahead of an expected mini reshuffle.
Grant Shapps arrives in Downing Street ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAUpdated at 04.50 EDT23m ago04.36 EDT
Claire Coutinho, the minister for children, has just entered Downing Street amid today’s expected mini reshuffle.
If Grant Shapps is appointed as defence secretary as expected, the East Surrey MP could replace him as energy security secretary.
Updated at 04.50 EDT28m ago04.30 EDT
The former prime minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the outgoing defence secretary, Ben Wallace, while saying the energy security secretary, Grant Shapps, would be an “excellent” replacement.
Johnson tweeted:
Sad to see departure of my friend Ben Wallace. A fine Defence Secretary who got so many calls right – especially on Ukraine.
Grant Shapps is an excellent choice to succeed him.
Sad to see departure of my friend Ben Wallace. A fine Defence Secretary who got so many calls right – especially on Ukraine. Grant Shapps is an excellent choice to succeed him.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 31, 2023Updated at…
2023-08-31 03:38:51
Link from www.theguardian.com
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