Calm in a crisis, a skilled and expert communicator with a pragmatic approach, Grant Shapps is a shrewd appointment to one of the most intense cabinet jobs.
The role of defence secretary “carries with it a 24/7 duty to be available at almost no notice”, his predecessor Ben Wallace noted in his resignation letter.
Mr Shapps, 54, has already made early inroads into the defence role with a prescient visit to Kyiv last Tuesday, where he posted a video on X, formerly Twitter.
“What I saw in Kyiv this week was a people resolute in their defiance against Putin’s tyranny and Russia’s aggression,” Mr Shapps said.
He will now enter the Ministry of Defence's main building in Whitehall, directly opposite Downing Street, where he will rapidly read into Britain’s most sensitive secrets, including nuclear missile targeting, special forces operations and protocols on actions in UK airspace.
Uppermost will be the pink pieces of paper marked “Top Secret”, giving Britain’s assessment of the Ukraine counter-offensive and the threat to UK security from Russia, China and North Korea.
They will also include an assessment of Middle East hot spots as well as the deteriorating ISIS situation in central Africa.
A close political associate told The National that Mr Shapps will be delighted with the new post. “Grant will be very happy indeed with this appointment. It will certainly give him lots of toys to play with that will enhance his standing.”
More importantly, as Secretary of Defence, he will work closely with Washington, where he already has a solid reputation for competence.
“Grant had a good relationship with Pete Buttigieg, his transport opposite number, in the US,” the political associate said. “They recognised that he is a pragmatist in everything that he does.”
Mr Shapps, who leaves his post as energy secretary, has a proven ability to rapidly “read into” a new role, having held five cabinet positions in the past year.
This included the record shortest stint as home secretary, for six days during Liz Truss’s chaotic premiership in October last year.
But it was his unruffled handling of Britain’s often-fraught transport infrastructure that demonstrated his smooth political skills, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Britain’s air and rail transport were all severely affected by the lockdowns but Mr Shapps was deft in heeding the calls from airlines over potential financial ruin while balancing those with the need to prevent the disease spreading further.
His rapid problem-solving was well demonstrated after a bureaucratic mishap left the UAE on the red list of countries banned from flying into Britain.
Within 24 hours of the position being noted, Mr Shapps granted an interview with The National, in which he disclosed that he had remedied the problem, allowing this newspaper to announce the solution.
That smart media handling has led to him being used by Boris Johnson and Mr Sunak as a key communicator to sell government policies.
Live interviews are his bread and butter, where he is rarely flustered and instead is able to tackle the most controversial issues.
As someone who holds a private pilot’s licence, he was able to empathise with the airlines and it will be a skill respected by the RAF in particular.
His appointment will also be a bonus for Britain’s beleaguered armed forces. There had been speculation that Mr Sunak would appoint John Glen, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in a move that would be seen as one to tighten defence budgets.
The new Secretary of Defence will almost certainly fight the armed forces’ corner in asking for an expanded budget for a military that has, over the past decade, been “hollowed out”, as Mr Wallace remarked.
Mr Shapps, the only person of Jewish heritage in the cabinet, also has the key political requirement of fixed loyalty. From the outset he supported Boris Johnson’s 2019 campaign to become prime minister, then after he resigned last year, he stood steadfastly behind Rishi Sunak.
He supported Mr Sunak resolutely, despite knowing that it was likely he would lose the summer leadership contest to Liz Truss. But it was an intelligent rather than blind loyalty, of a politician who understood who was the best fit for the job.
That shrewdness and his communication skills will be key capabilities in one of the biggest roles in government.
Military reception
Mr Shapps will have to absorb a very large amount of information in a very short period of time and make snap decisions, a leading military analyst said.
“He will be invited to make difficult decisions with incomplete information at very short notice,” Brig Ben Barry of the IISS think-tank told The National. “It doesn't take much for a potential flashpoint to become an active flashpoint, whether it’s in Ukraine, Russia, Iran, the Middle East, South China Sea or North Korea.”
Mr Wallace will also be “a tough act to follow” – he had arguably been the best defence secretary in the past 50 years, getting the calls right on Ukraine and Russia, alongside securing more funding to upgrade the military.
But the Ministry of Defence also had to accept that it has been twice defeated during Mr Wallace’s tenure, in Afghanistan and Mali, where “both missions failed to stabilise those countries”, Brig Barry said. “Denying this institutionally means that important lessons can't be learnt.”
Similarly, the army is being reduced to its smallest size in centuries and had yet to declare which forces it would assign to Nato to implement its new strategic concept.
There was, therefore, “unfinished business that Shapps cannot avoid tending to” with the spiralling cost of Britain’s nuclear deterrent also eating into its conventional weapons programme.
The key leadership team of civil servants and military leaders will want Mr Shapps to make a success of the role and “become an expert on his portfolio as quickly as possible”.
“Particularly because there might be a rapid flare-up in the international situation that requires him to make rapid decisions under pressure,” Brig Barry added.
Brief scores:
Toss: Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi, chose to field
Environment Agency: 193-3 (20 ov)
Ikhlaq 76 not out, Khaliya 58, Ahsan 55
Pakhtunkhwa Zalmi: 194-2 (18.3 ov)
Afridi 95 not out, Sajid 55, Rizwan 36 not out
Result: Pakhtunkhwa won by 8 wickets
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More from our neighbourhood series:
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Shafaf, Sam Hitchcott (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5,30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Noof KB, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: The President’s Cup Listed (TB) Dh380,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Jim Crowley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Group One (PA) Dh2,500,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Arabian Triple Crown Listed (PA) Dh230,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Mekhbat, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
Top tips to avoid cyber fraud
Microsoft’s ‘hacker-in-chief’ David Weston, creator of the tech company’s Windows Red Team, advises simple steps to help people avoid falling victim to cyber fraud:
1. Always get the latest operating system on your smartphone or desktop, as it will have the latest innovations. An outdated OS can erode away all investments made in securing your device or system.
2. After installing the latest OS version, keep it patched; this means repairing system vulnerabilities which are discovered after the infrastructure components are released in the market. The vast majority of attacks are based on out of date components – there are missing patches.
3. Multi-factor authentication is required. Move away from passwords as fast as possible, particularly for anything financial. Cybercriminals are targeting money through compromising the users’ identity – his username and password. So, get on the next level of security using fingertips or facial recognition.
4. Move your personal as well as professional data to the cloud, which has advanced threat detection mechanisms and analytics to spot any attempt. Even if you are hit by some ransomware, the chances of restoring the stolen data are higher because everything is backed up.
5. Make the right hardware selection and always refresh it. We are in a time where a number of security improvement processes are reliant on new processors and chip sets that come with embedded security features. Buy a new personal computer with a trusted computing module that has fingerprint or biometric cameras as additional measures of protection.
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
