Grant Shapps Named New UK Defense Secretary

On Thursday, Grant Shapps was named as the UK's new defense secretary, after the resignation of long-serving Ben Wallace.

The office of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the appointment of Shapps, 54, who was serving as energy security and net zero secretary.

Sunak praised in a letter after the resignation of Wallace the "dedication and skill" he brought to the role.

The announcement of Shapps was part of a mini-reshuffle of the cabinet.

The switch included MP Claire Coutinho replacing Shapps as energy security and net zero secretary.

Coutinho who served as Children's Minister was replaced by David Johnston.

Richard Dannatt, a former chief of the general staff, told Sky News about the appointment of Shapps: “Now we have a new defense secretary who knows very little about defense – and it’s a complex portfolio, it will take him quite some time to get up to speed."