U.K. PM Rishi Sunak appoints Grant Shapps as new Defence Minister

Rishi Sunak appoints Grant Shapps as new Defence Minister in mini reshuffle following Ben Wallace's resignation. Shapps has held five ministerial portfolios in a year, including Transport Secretary and Home Secretary. Wallace praises Sunak for his commitment to defence, saying it is "back on the path to being world-class." Wallace also believes world will become "more insecure and unstable" and urges Sunak to invest in defence.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on August 31 appointed Grant Shapps as his new Defence Minister in a mini reshuffle following the resignation of Ben Wallace as Defence Secretary for personal reasons.

Mr. Shapps, who was Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary in the Cabinet, has been a strong supporter of Mr. Sunak as Conservative Party leader.

The new post of Defence Secretary marks his fifth ministerial portfolio within a year, having previously served as Transport Secretary and briefly also as Home Secretary.

“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 U.K. defence & global security over the last four years,” Mr. Shapps, 54, posted on X soon after his meeting with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.

Another Mr. Sunak ally and Indian-origin junior minister, Claire Coutinho, is among those in the running to replace Mr. Shapps in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The mini reshuffle was on the cards ever since Mr. Wallace had announced his intention to step down from frontline politics a few weeks ago, a move he made official with his resignation letter to Mr. Sunak on Thursday.

“After much reflection, I have taken the decision to ask that I be allowed to step down. I won my seat in 2005 and after so many years it is time for me to invest in the parts of life that I have neglected, and to explore new opportunities. Thank you for your support and your friendship. You and the government will have my continued support,” reads the letter.