Grant Shapps appointed defence secretary as Claire Coutinho takes energy brief in mini

Grant Shapps has been confirmed as the new defence secretary, after Ben Wallace’s resignation earlier today.

The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has moved quickly to appoint Shapps, who most recently served in the cabinet as the energy security secretary.

He has previously served as the home secretary (for six days in Liz Truss’s ill-fated cabinet), business secretary, transport secretary and chairman of the Tory party, among a number of junior ministerial roles since 2010.

Grant Shapps to MoD. pic.twitter.com/n389QWAKZ2

Wallace had served for just over two years before stepping down this morning, ahead of an expected mini reshuffle.