Grant Shapps: the slick survivor with a taste for party wargames

Grant Shapps takes on his fifth cabinet post in less than a year, cementing his position as one of the most experienced operators in Westminster and signalling a more campaign-driven approach to defence.

He has no defence record to speak of and his arrival is likely to cause some unease among those who appreciated Ben Wallace’s battles on behalf of the military, perhaps showing Rishi Sunak’s desire for less conflict between the Ministry of Defence and No 10.

However, Shapps is known as one of the most effective communicators in government and the move from energy secretary may be designed to reassure Ukraine after Shapps, an outspoken supporter, became the best-known minister to host a family of refugees.

At home in February with his Ukrainian guests: Hannah, right, Snezhana and Nikita

JOSHUA BRATT FOR THE TIMES

He headed the all-party parliamentary group