Military figures voiced alarm today as Rishi Sunak tightened his grip on government by replacing Defence Secretary Ben Wallace with a close ally.
In a surprise to many at Westminster, Grant Shapps was given the nod for the key role after Mr Wallace confirmed his departure – despite having no previous experience in the area.
Children’s minister Claire Coutinho – another Sunak arch-loyalist who was only elected to Parliament in 2019 – has been promoted to the top table to take over his duties as Net Zero Secretary.
Mr Shapps has served in a wide variety of posts throughout his political career – including five Cabinet posts in the past year – but never a defence brief. He did visit Ukraine recently, ostensibly to discuss energy issues.
The MP said he was ‘honoured’ to be appointed and would continue the ‘fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion’.
However, a former army chief warned that Mr Shapps knows ‘very little about defence’ and it will take him ‘quite some time to get up to speed’.
Many within the Ministry of Defence had been pushing for Armed Forces Minister James Heappey to get shifted upwards since Mr Wallace signalled he was quitting last month.
It is also unclear what will happen to Mr Shapps’s TikTok feed now he is in a more sensitive position. The MP had vowed to keep using the Chinese-owned social media site despite data security worries – most recently posting from his trip to Kyiv.
Tories suggested Mr Shapps, known for his slightly off-the-wall videos promoting policies, would be getting the ‘mother of all briefings’ from defence officials and would be forced to delete some apps from his phone.
Grant Shapps (pictured being appointed by Rishi Sunak this morning) has served in a wide variety of posts throughout his political career, but never a defence brief
![Children's minister Claire Coutinho - another Sunak loyalist who was only elected to Parliament in 2019 - has been promoted to the top table to take over Mr Shapps' duties as Net Zero Secretary](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/11/74913377-12464663-image-m-68_1693478378621.jpg)
Children’s minister Claire Coutinho – another Sunak loyalist who was only elected to Parliament in 2019 – has been promoted to the top table to take over Mr Shapps’ duties as Net Zero Secretary
![Ms Coutinho - the first of the 2019 intake to become a full Cabinet minister - was a special adviser to Mr Sunak when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/11/74913379-12464663-Ms_Coutinho_the_first_of_the_2019_intake_to_become_a_full_Cabine-m-69_1693478416712.jpg)
Ms Coutinho – the first of the 2019 intake to become a full Cabinet minister – was a special adviser to Mr Sunak when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury
![Mr Wallace confirmed his departure - announced last month - in an exchange of letters with the PM](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/08/74907667-12464663-image-a-11_1693467124198.jpg)
Mr Wallace confirmed his departure – announced last month – in an exchange of letters with the PM
Mr Shapps posted on X: ‘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.
‘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.’
Mr Shapps was a staunch backer of Mr Sunak in the two recent Tory leadership contests.
Meanwhile, 38-year-old Ms Coutinho – the first of the 2019 intake to become a full Cabinet minister – was a special adviser to Mr Sunak when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The Oxford-educated Brexiteer is MP for East Surrey, and has been a minister for less than a year.
Tory MP David Johnston takes her old duties at the Department for Education, closing off the limited reshuffle.
In another sign that Mr Sunak is gathering trusted aides ready for the looming general election next year, two veteran advisers have been brought back into No10.
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, a former aide to Matt Hancock, is returning as Downing Street director of strategy. And David Cameron adviser Adam Atashzai is joining the PM’s political office.
Lord Dannatt told Sky News Mr Wallace ‘did a good job, but he leaves with work in progress’, adding: ‘And now we have a new Defence Secretary who knows very little about defence, and it’s a complex portfolio. It will take him quite some time to get up to speed.
‘I think there is a risk that certainly the debate on resources for defence stagnates, at least until Grant Shapps can get his head around his portfolio.’
He went on: ‘I think what the chief of defence staff and the single service chiefs will be hoping from the new Secretary of State for Defence is that he will listen to the concerns that they have within the wider context of the insecurity of the world.
‘And although he may well have been appointed as someone who is going to support the Prime Minister and help the Conservative Party in its general election campaign, they will be hoping that he will really understand defence and push the case for defence, not just for the Ministry of Defence’s own benefit, but for the benefit of the whole country.
‘Because there is a very strong case that we should be investing more in defence than we currently are. Ben Wallace knew that. Ben Wallace was arguing for it. Is that discussion going to continue? Or will Grant Shapps choose to go quietly?’
![Mr Shapps recently posted a video on TikTok documenting his visit to Ukraine, where he discussed energy security](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/16/74923757-12465897-image-a-58_1693495320228.jpg)
Mr Shapps recently posted a video on TikTok documenting his visit to Ukraine, where he discussed energy security
![Another memorable TikTok offering featured an Elf on a Shelf constantly disrupting Mr Shapps' efforts to make his home more energy efficient](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/16/74923759-12465897-image-a-59_1693495345120.jpg)
Another memorable TikTok offering featured an Elf on a Shelf constantly disrupting Mr Shapps’ efforts to make his home more energy efficient
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/16/74921879-12465897-image-a-56_1693495290448.jpg)
![As Transport Secretary, Mr Shapps starred in a bizarre clip where he dressed up in different outfits pretending to tour the UK, urging people to get back on trains after Covid](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/16/74921849-12465897-image-a-57_1693495298441.jpg)
As Transport Secretary, Mr Shapps starred in a bizarre clip where he dressed up in different outfits pretending to tour the UK, urging people to get back on trains after Covid
Former armed forces minister Mark Francois, a member of the Commons Defence Committee, said it will be an ‘incredibly tough act to follow’ for Mr Shapps.
‘I think, to put it mildly, because it’s such a complex department, this is going to be a very steep learning curve for Grant Shapps,’ the Tory MP told GB News.
‘Grant Shapps is a bright bloke, but he’s going to have to come up with the speed very, very quickly.’
Others raised questions about Mr Shapps’ love of social media. He has been a vocal advocate of using the TikTok platform, insisting that politicians must communicate in the same way voters do.
Mr Shapps recently posted a video on his channel documenting his visit to Ukraine, where he discussed energy security. Another memorable offering featured an Elf on a Shelf constantly disrupting Mr Shapps’ efforts to make his home more energy efficient.
As Transport Secretary, Mr Shapps starred in a bizarre clip where he dressed up in different outfits pretending to tour the UK, urging people to get back on trains after Covid.
Defence Committee chair Tobias Ellwood predicted BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme, he said: ‘He’ll be getting the mother of all briefings when he walks into the MoD,’ the Tory MP said.
‘I suspect he might have his phone, not taken away from him, but certainly he’ll come out with less (sic) apps on his phone than when he walks in.’
Labour MP Cat West said it was ‘surprising’ that Mr Shapps was still using TikTok ‘given the well-publicised privacy and security concerns’.
Mr Wallace, who served under three prime ministers in his current role, has been lauded for overseeing the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson.
A favourite among Tory members, he was at one time seen as a potential leadership contender.
However, he ruled himself out of the running for the Conservative leadership last year despite being an early frontrunner in the race to replace Mr Johnson.
Mr Wallace was also touted as the next head of Nato earlier this summer, but his bid was thwarted by opposition from Joe Biden and France – who were adamant the next chief should come from an EU state.
Shortly afterwards Mr Wallace declared he will leave the Commons at the next election, having been embroiled in a row over suggesting Ukraine should show more ‘gratitude’ for Nato support.
In his letter to Mr Sunak, Mr Wallace said: ‘The Ministry of Defence is back on the path to being once again world class with world class people.
‘The United Kingdom is respected around the world for our armed forces and that respect has only grown more since the war in Ukraine.
‘I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where defence was viewed as a discretionary spend by Government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.’
Mr Sunak praised Mr Wallace, telling him he leaves office with ‘thanks and respect’.
Posting on the X social media site, Mr Wallace said: ‘That’s all folks! Been a privilege to serve this great nation.’
Mr Johnson was among those paying tribute to Mr Wallace’s contribution. ‘Sad to see departure of my friend Ben Wallace. A fine Defence Secretary who got so many calls right – especially on Ukraine,’ he said.
‘Grant Shapps is an excellent choice to succeed him.’
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/16/74924293-12465897-image-a-60_1693495496615.jpg)
![Mr Wallace wrote that he hoped the MoD was on the path to being 'world class' again](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/08/31/08/74907685-12464663-image-a-13_1693467132022.jpg)
Mr Wallace wrote that he hoped the MoD was on the path to being ‘world class’ again
Shadow defence secretary John Healey said: ‘I congratulate Grant Shapps today.
‘The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe and I will always work with the new Defence Secretary on this basis, especially on Ukraine
‘But after 13 years of Tory defence failures, a change at the top will not change this record.’
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Richard Foord said Mr Sunak had appointed a ‘yes man’ who will oversee troop cuts.
‘They have taken the armed forces for granted for too long, and we are all left less safe as a result,’ he said.