12.00
And finally: not names that resonate with voters, or even with party members, but these are two of the best-rated former Consevative SpAds – back for the general election.
Njoku-Goodwin will have the more strategic role; Atashzai will in Number 10 for the 2015 general election – so he will know all about fighting contests when behind in the polls.
11.00
Shapps is a poor performer in our Cabinet League Table, in negative ratings recently, and has never shaken off the Michael Green imbroglio – at least, as far as some Party members are concerned; their view is that he’s a lightweight (bluntly).
One defence-orientated backbencher says that “he knows nothing about Defence”; that “he’s got the job solely because he’s Rishi’s mate” and that “I am bloody disgusted” (adding that “this is the mild version”).
Another says more diplomatically that “part of our problem is that we don’t field our best team”. Long-time Tory observers I’m in contact with this morning are enthusiastic about the Coutinho/Johnstone appointments but contemptuous of Shapps’.
Downing Street’s case for the Shapps appointment falls into three main parts. First, to take by the horns the bull of Shapps’ lack of defence experience.
It argues that some of the best defence secretaries have had none – citing George Robertson, Tony Blair’s first holder of the post, later Secretary-General of NATO.
Furthermore, it claims that senior military figures prefer someone with no direct experience precisely because such a person will be more likely to be neutral between the services…
…while also arguing that “energy security is now national security, so Grant is across many of the issues” (having also served on the National Security Council).
Next, it says that the Prime Minister sees defence as a big job (not unnaturally), especially in the context of Putin’s war in Ukraine.
He therefore wants a Defence Secretary who has already run a department and “not even Grant’s critics would say he’s incompetent”. (For Wallace’s replacement must also get to grips with the department’s procurement difficulties.)
Finally, it doesn’t deny that as, we move towards the election, the Prime Minister wants “a more front-footed cabinet”. And Shapps indeed is one of the few Cabinet Ministers experienced enough not always to be on the media defensive.
Against all this will be put the case I opened with – plus the view that too many senior Ministers are moved around too often and too fast.
10.30
Claire Coutinho is indeed the new Energy and Net Zero Secretary.
Her promotion comes as no surprise to this site, but she’s virtually unknown to the wider public.
A snap introduction: formerly worked at Merrill Lynch and KPMG; then a special adviser at the Treasury and the Whips’ Office; also worked at the Centre for Social Justice. Entered Parliament as recently as 2019.
Supported Brexit, Sunak loyalist; parents came to Britain from India (like the Prime Minister) Goan Christian heritage (unlike him). Father Winston was an aesthetist, mother a GP (similar to him).
Downing Street’s view is that she’s very able, an exceptionally good minister – and that one needs to be intellectually able to grapple with the challenges of energy security, Net Zero and consumer protection.
And of course she boosts the number of women in the Cabinet – never a trivial consideration for Number Ten, since the lobby invariably put the numbers under a magnifying glass.
I have Coutinho down, in the event of a fifth Conservative term, as Sunak’s Chancellor. I would apologise for burdening her with great expectations impossible to bear were the prospect of such a Tory victory fabulously unlikely.
David Johnston replaces her at Education as the Childcare Minister. He’s a record of interest in childcare and children, and especially in social mobility, about which he has written on this site. And that’s it for appointments today, I’m told.
10.15
10am
Christopher Hope of GB News tweets that Claire Coutinho is in Downing Street.
9.45
Grant Shapps is the new Defence Secretary.
This is his fifth Cabinet job in a year.
Last August, he was Transport Secretary.
In October, he became Home Secretary under Liz Truss…
…and Business Secretary later that month after Sunak replaced her.
Then Energy and Climate Change Secretary in February.
He comes to the department with a track record of interest in Ukraine – he was Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in October 2022 – but none that I can see in Defence.
The Prime Minister has appointed a loyalist communicator – Shapps, having stood for the Party leadership himself, endorsed Sunak during last summer’s leadership election – who helped to run the latter’s campaign whipping operation.
Shapps’ legendary spreadsheets had previously been deployed for Boris Johnson during the latter’s own leadership campaign in 2019.
9.30
Boris Johnson calls it for Shapps.
9.15
Henry Zeffman of the BBC tweets that “Grant Shapps has just arrived in 10 Downing Street – looking likely he’s the new defence secretary”.
9am
Rishi Sunak has brought forward the mini-reshuffle to today, having postponed it at the last minute during the summer.
I’m told that the main reshuffle will take place before the King’s Speech on November 7 – to present a campaigning team during the run-up to the general election – and that today’s will be limited.
At any rate, the Prime Minister has decided not to make the mini-change at what would seem to be the most predicatible time: namely, the start of next week, as Parliament returns.
Questions for today are: will the changes relate solely to the Ministry for Defence? Will Sunak replace other Ministers who plan to leave Parliament at the next election (such as Dehenna Davison)?
And will he promote some Ministers to just below official Cabinet level today in order to bring them to full membership before November 7?
At any rate, Ben Wallace has resigned. His resignation letter says that “ever since I joined the Army I have dedicated myself to serving my country. That dedication however comes at a personal toll to me and my family”.
“After much reflection, I have taken the decision to ask that I be allowed to step down. I won my seat in 2005 and after so many years it is time for me to invest in the parts of life that I have neglected, and to explore new opportunities.”
“The investment you made in Defence as Chancellor and the continued support you have shown as Prime Minister has been key to enabling the Ministry of Defence to deliver for Britain. I am personally very grateful for your leadership,” he writes.
However, there is a sting in the tail. “I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where Defence was viewed as a discretionary spend by Government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.”
Wallace has topped this site’s Cabinet League Table since January 2022, and has led his department with distinction during this phase of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – and the first land war between two European nations since 1945.
Runners and riders to replace him include John Glen, Jeremy Quin, Anne-Marie Trevelyan and two late entrants – Liam Fox and Grant Shapps.
Sunak’s reply to Wallace is a glowing tribute, ending with the words: “I know you have more to offer public life, here and internationally”.
The latter missed out on becoming the next Secretary-General of NATO, and leaves office now for a not unusual and very human reason: he’s had a long stint at the top of politics and wants a change.