What is top of the in-tray for new Defence Secretary Grant Shapps?
Mr Shapps takes over as Defence Secretary at a key moment in debates about the future of the UK armed forces.
Grant Shapps assumes the role of UK Defence Secretary amidst escalating tensions in Ukraine and ongoing debates about the future of the British armed forces. He inherits key issues such as determining the level of support to Ukraine in its war against Russia, addressing funding concerns for the UK armed forces, scrutinizing troop numbers amid questions about army sufficiency, and shaping the UK's stance toward China. The government has pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP when feasible, and Shapps is expected to navigate complex decisions in a role that holds significant implications for both national and international security.