Politics as it happened: Grant Shapps replaces Wallace as Defence Secretary in Rishi Sunak's mini reshuffle

Good morning and welcome to NationalWorld's politics live blog. With recess nearing an end, it feels like Westminster and the political world is awakening from a slumber. Rishi Sunak will have to choose a new Defence Secretary today after Ben Wallace's formal resignation, and may end making other Cabinet changes.

It's still "crime week", the latest in a string of themed weeks from the government, which doesn't sound particularly appealing. After announcing yesterday proposals to try and enforce offenders to attend their sentencing hearings, today the Home Office has handed powers to Chief Constables to fire police officers found guilty of misconduct.

We'll keep you up to date with all the twists and turns. If you want to get in touch/have your say/send a meme email [email protected].

Here is Ben Wallace's letter resigning in full:

Dear Prime Minister,

Last month marked my fourth year as Secretary of State for Defence. It also marks the ninth year as a minister. I have had the privilege of serving you and your predecessors in the task of protecting this great country and keeping its citizens safe. As you know that responsibility carries with it a 24/7 duty to be available at almost no notice. In my time as both security minister and at Defence, I have been able to contribute to the Government’s response to a range of threats and incidents.

From Wannacry, the 2017 terrorist attacks, the Salisbury Poisonings, Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine, it has been an honour to serve alongside the men and women of our armed forces and intelligence services who sacrifice so much for our security.

The last four years has seen our armed forces and their leadership shine through. Whether it was the evacuation of Kabul, our Covid response, Ukraine or Sudan, the professionalism of our people has been first class.

The investment you made in Defence as Chancellor and the continued support you have shown as Prime Minister has been key to enabling the Ministry of Defence to deliver for Britain. I am personally very grateful for your leadership.

As I finish my tenure, I can reflect that the Ministry of Defence that I leave is now more modern, better funded and more confident than the organisation I took over in 2019. As well as being active around the world we have also invested in prosperity at home. I am proud that I have secured GCAP, AUKUS, NCF, national shipbuilding and the Defence and Security industrial strategies that will secure thousands of British jobs for our young people many years into the future.

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.

I genuinely believe that over the next decade the world will get more insecure and more unstable. We both share the belief that now is the time to invest. Ever since I joined the Army I have dedicated myself to serving my country. That dedication however comes at a personal toll to me and my family.

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 the support and your friendship. You and the Government will have my continued support.

Yours sincerely,

The Right Honourable Ben Wallace MP

Armed forces minister James Heappey and Chief Secretary to the Treasury John Glen have both been suggested as possible replacements.

The Daily Telegraph also suggested former defence secretary Liam Fox is a possibility.

Dr Fox, who served in the role under then prime minister David Cameron between 2010 and 2011, was forced to resign after allowing his friend and best man Adam Werritty to take on an unofficial and undeclared role as his adviser.

The senior Tory MP backed Sunak in last summer’s Conservative leadership race.

Politico and the BBC have heard Energy Secretary Grant Shapps is a dark horse, which would require a wider reshuffle.

Well that happened quickly, Grant Shapps has been seen entering Number 10 Downing Street - so seems likely to become the next Defence Secretary.

He hadn't been considered a possible Wallace replacement until today, which either shows Downing Street has got a good grip on leaks or Sunak has only considered him late in the day.

Most people may remember Grant Shapps as the minister the government wheeled out to defend Dominic Cummings, on his infamous trip to Durham and then Barnard Castle while suffering from coronavirus symptoms.

Shapps was Transport Secretary at the time, and desperately told reporters that he'd rather talk about the "dualling of the A66" than the Prime Minister's main advisor appearing to break Covid rules.

Grant Shapps has formally been announced by Downing Street as the new Defence Secretary. He replaces Ben Wallace who resigned after four years in the job.

Current Education minister Claire Coutinho has also just entered Downing Street. Could she be about to replace Shapps as Energy Security Secretary? That would be a big promotion for an MP who was only voted in in 2019. She was however Sunak's PPS and special advisor before that.

Grant Shapps has already updated his Twitter to confirm he is the new Defence Secretary. He said he is “honoured” to get the role as he praised Ben Wallace.

Shapps tweeted: “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.”

Let's look at some of the political commentators reaction to Shapps' appointment. The FT's Jim Pickard points out that in the last year, Shapps has been Home Secretary (for just six days), Transport Secretary, Business Secretary, Energy Secretary and now Defence Secretary.

Adam Bienkov, Byline Times' political commentator, points out that Shapps ran a get-rich-quick scheme while an MP.

The Times' Red Box Editor Lara Spirit flags that Shapps was chair of APPG on Ukraine for half a day in October, some experience for this job perhaps ...

Newsnight's Sima Kotecha says critics will says PM has gone for "safety over military experience".

As many people have pointed out this is Grant Shapps' fifth senior Cabinet role in a year - which could be some kind of record.

Shapps spent around two-and-half years as Transport Secretary, and took a fairly bullish approach to the rail strikes - which obviously still haven't been resolved.

On 19 October 2022, he was appointed Home Secretary after Suella Braverman resigned over leaking classified documents. This was just one day before Liz Truss resigned as Prime Minister, and he only had six days in the role until Rishi Sunak replaced Truss and ... brought back Suella Braverman.

On 25 October 2022, Sunak appointed Shapps as Business Secretary and then on 7 February 2023 he was appointed into the new role of Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero.

And now on 31 August 2023, he was been made Defence Secretary.

Ministerial churn has been something critics have highlighted as having a significant impact on effective government. Earlier this year, Alex Chisholm, Cabinet Office permanent secretary, said that the “sheer rate of change and the pressure of going through the gears” had a significant impact on staff morale.

He explained: “It had felt quite relentless, the pace of change, and obviously, we have had the the changes in political leadership as well, as part of that.”