Shapps becomes defence secretary

Former transport secretary Grant Shapps is to replace Ben Wallace as defence secretary in a reshuffle of the cabinet.

He was transport secretary from 2019 to 2022, when he was sacked by Liz Truss during her short spell as prime minister. He then became home secretary in the final days of Truss’s premiership. 

When Rishi Sunak became prime minister, Shapps became secretary for energy security and net zero. Claire Coutinho, previously a minister at the Department for Education, has now been appointed to the role.

During his tenure as transport secretary, Shapps introduced a range of strategies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In May 2021 he pledged £3bn to support the bus sector under the National Bus Strategy and BSIP (BSIP) Guidance.  

In a bid to encourage cycling and walking, Shapps unveiled the Gear Change strategy, which included an initial £250m emergency active travel fund. 

He also unveiled plans for Great British Railways (GBR), a centralised public body which is due to oversee rail transport in Great Britain.