Shapps has a wealth of experience...No 10 defends selection for defence job

MILITARY top brass have called on Grant Shapps to fight for extra spending after his shock appointment as Defence Secretary.

- Sam Lister

Rishi Sunak appointed his close ally after Ben Wallace quit ahead of stepping down as an MP at the next election.

Mr Shapps is one of the Government's most experienced ministers and seen as a safe pair of hands.

He has held five Cabinet posts in the past year, but does not have a military background.

And Mr Shapps paid tribute to Mr Wallace for his "enormous contribution" and vowed to continue the UK's support for Ukraine in its "fight against Putin's barbaric invasion".

A Downing Street source said the defence role has been done "very successfully" before by ministers who did not come from a military background most notably by Labour's Lord Robertson who went on to become Nato secretary general.

The insider said: "Grant has held a number of Cabinet positions and has a huge wealth of experience.

"The role requires a good communicator as the stakes are very high."

A source close to the new Defence Secretary said he would continue Mr Wallace's "great work" modernising the armed forces.