Following Ben Wallace’s resignation from his role as defense secretary earlier today, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday named Conservative MP and former energy secretary Grant Shapps as the new secretary.
Since Winston Churchill, Wallace served as the Tories’ defense secretary for the longest.
Shapps’ appointment was made public by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office about an hour after he was spotted leaving 10 Downing Street, according to AFP.
The office of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X (previously Twitter) that The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP @GrantShapps had been appointed Secretary of State for Defence @DefenceHQ.
The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP @GrantShapps has been appointed Secretary of State for Defence @DefenceHQ pic.twitter.com/ln5Sw6ZRyq
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) August 31, 2023
After being appointed to the role, Grant Shapps expressed his excitement about working with the armed forces that defend the country.
“I’m honored to serve as @RishiSunak’s Defense Secretary,” Shapps said on X, “I’d like to acknowledge the tremendous impact Ben Wallace has made to UK defense & international security over the last 4 years.
https://x.com/grantshapps/status/1697168829141401767?s=46&t=rAqux3ilOhqo8EUShnGQQA
“As I begin my work at @DefenceHQ, I am eager to collaborate with the courageous members of our Armed Forces who protect national security. Shapps stated on X, “And continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their struggle against Putin’s barbarous invasion.
Shapps previously held the position of transport secretary in the Boris Johnson cabinet before temporarily serving as home minister in last October’s short-lived Liz Truss administration.
The positions of energy secretary and net zero were given to MP Claire Coutinho after Shapps was named defense secretary.
“Claire Coutinho MP @ClaireCoutinho has been appointed Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero @energygovuk,” Rishi Sunak’s office announced on X.
https://x.com/10downingstreet/status/1697178283123622027?s=46&t=rAqux3ilOhqo8EUShnGQQA
Wallace stated in his letter of resignation that he supported the army through good times and bad. The Wannacry ransomware attack, the terrorist assaults of 2017, the Salisbury poisonings, and the wars in Afghanistan, Sudan, and Ukraine were all occurrences he remembered.
Wallace said that he would continue to support Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his administration, according to ANI.
Ben Wallace’s resignation from the Sunak cabinet comes shortly after the second resignation. Nadine Dorries earlier declared that she will be leaving the UK House of Commons “with immediate effect.”