Ben Wallace formally resigned on Thursday after playing a significant part in determining the nation’s military support for Ukraine against Russia. Grant Shapps was named the new UK defence secretary, replacing Ben Wallace.
Wallace, a well-liked MP often mentioned as a prospective party leader, served as the Conservative Party’s defence secretary for the longest period of time since Winston Churchill.
In a newspaper interview in July, he had stated that he would resign before the following cabinet change and not run in the anticipated 2024 general election.
Shapps’ appointment was made public by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office around an hour after he was spotted leaving 10 Downing Street.
In a post on social media, Shapps expressed his “honour” at the appointment and noted Wallace’s “enormous contribution” to both UK defence and international security.
He remarked on X, formerly Twitter, “I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our armed forces who defend our nation’s security.”
“And maintaining UK assistance for Ukraine in their struggle against Putin’s genocidal invasion.”
Shapps, 54, previously held the position of transport minister under Boris Johnson and was home secretary for a brief period in last October’s short-lived Liz Truss administration.
Before becoming the secretary in charge of energy security and net zero under Sunak, he served as Sunak’s business secretary as well.
He paid a visit to Kyiv last week to commit UK assistance in supplying fuel to Ukrainian power plants for the winter.
Additionally, he visited a kindergarten that the little kid of a Ukrainian family that he has been hosting at his house ever since Russia’s invasion attends.
Shapps entered the race to succeed Johnson, promising tax reductions and capable leadership.
Although a long shot as a leader, he was largely regarded as an adept communicator and activist.
