The role of Members of Parliament is multifaceted, encompassing everything from constituency work to holding the government to account on the national stage.
One measure of an MP’s engagement with specific issues is the frequency with which they raise questions in Parliament.
Grant Shapps, who has been an MP for 18 years, has only asked 79 defence-related questions during his parliamentary career. A basic analysis of these figures seems to suggest a relatively low level of interest in defence matters.
Shapps by the numbers
To put the figures into perspective, Shapps has asked an average of 4 defence-related questions per year over his 18-year career in Parliament.
When considering that he has also been a Minister for 9 of those years, the numbers do look a bit more generous; roughly 8-9 questions per year if we exclude his ministerial tenure. Even so, compared to other MPs with similar longevity, these figures still appear relatively low.
Public perception and accountability
While numbers alone don’t provide a full picture, perception matters in politics, and even more so when it comes to a portfolio as sensitive as defence. The UK is facing an increasingly complex international environment, marked by evolving threats and geopolitical shifts.
In such times, the Defence Secretary plays a vital role, and their record in relation to defence matters will naturally come under scrutiny. The lack of previous engagement could be seen as a cause for concern, raising questions over his preparedness and focus. Could this perceived lack of previous interest in defence topics impact his credibility and efficacy in his new role?
Royal Air Force carriers?
In a blow to his perception in defence, the new defence secretary confused the RAF with the Royal Navy on the second week of the job while speaking to LBC here.
New defence secretary Grant Shapps confuses RAF with Royal Navy on second week of job while speaking to LBChttps://t.co/XuaRQg1vlw
— LBC (@LBC) September 6, 2023
Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast on Wednesday, he described the new carriers, “the largest carriers the RAF has ever had”. The aircraft carriers are operated by the Royal Navy, rather than the RAF.
In his own words
The Secretary of State said recently, “Defence is in my DNA because Britain gave my family our freedom Now as Defence Secretary I’m committed to protecting the freedom of every British family by ensuring our Armed Forces are ready to respond to any threat.”
Defence is in my DNA because Britain gave my family our freedom
Now as Defence Secretary I’m committed to protecting the freedom of every British family by ensuring our Armed Forces are ready to respond to any threat https://t.co/dWUDknSWeb
— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) September 3, 2023
The future
Grant Shapps’ appointment as Defence Secretary has brought attention to his limited track record of parliamentary questions on defence issues. While not an exhaustive indicator of his abilities or interest, these statistics do shine a light on an area where increased focus and engagement would be beneficial.
As Shapps assumes his new role, his actions and decisions will matter far more than his past record of parliamentary questions. However, as is often the case in politics, perception can set the stage for how actions are received and interpreted. As such, it would be in his best interest to actively engage with the complexities and responsibilities of this new role from day one.
Diane Abbot? She can’t even count so a job at the Bank of England instead?😎
Nope no interest, expertise or even the foggiest clue what to do.
What’s Grant Shapps area of expertise?
Grant Shapp.
He is only out for himself and his own hopelessly incompetent career.
At least with Sunak you know what he stands for. Money. Money. Money. Big business, city of London, Tory party grandees and trying to screw the country over to make a quick buck whilst in charge.
Investment portfolio is looking good for Sunak and Co.
Hasn’t that been the ambition of every single MP of any party since 1978?
Since 1649.
Granted!
https://i.postimg.cc/T1rXvd8x/Untitled-1.jpg
The only suitable person has just left the job. The rest left to choose from are a bunch of incompetent, malevolent fools. As others have said he is only in the job as he is a total Sunak sycophant and will not challenge him in any shape or form. Yet another sad, worrying day for our armed forces, you can guess that bad news in just around the corner regarding fixing the obvious, current deficiencies.
I had hopes for Heappey as the steady-as-she-goes candidate. Tugendhat would have been a gamble, but at least he would have brought a breath of fresh air and a bit of rigour.
Anyone of the PM’s usual suspects would have been useless by design. Useless for Defence I mean. Rishi thinks he might win by simply appearing to do safe things and taking no risks. So Shapps is a safe pair of hands because he will never be thrown the ball and wouldn’t dream of chasing it.
Mourdant would have been another shout. Shapp is a political Delboy and while that can work for some departments at times, I can’t see it working for Defence. At least not at the moment when its a priority, Wallace had gravitas and a history with the Forces. Shapp in comparison comes across as just another political appointment rather than someone hand picked for their known ability in military matters when we have a land war in Europe. Seems a bit odd to me, especially with an election in just over a year so deal with what’s in front of you,… Read more »
No I would go for Lammy over shapes…Lammy was an inner city kid with a single parent that ended up graduating from Harvard law school with a masters degree, called to the bar in 1994…like his politics or not he’s not an light weight…interestingly Lammy has done significant campaigning for the rights of veterans from ethic minorities and was instrumental in the investigation into the commonwealth war graves commission being found to be pervasively racist in its commemoration of Britain war dead from other non white ethinc groups. shapps was from a leafy middle class suburb, attended grammar school but… Read more »
Jonathan wrote: Lammy was an inner-city kid with a single parent that ended up graduating from Harvard law school with a master’s degree, called to the bar in 1994…like his politics or not he’s not an light weight Just because somebody has a degree or even been to a prestigious learning establishment doesn’t infuse that person with intelligence or even common sense. For example when I was based at Chatham we used to teach young officers straight out of Sandhurst combat engineering. On one occasion after a night time mine field laying exercise using a bar mine layer, and… Read more »
You’re right. Despite his theoretical background I wouldn’t trust Lammy as far as I could throw him.
It’s a shit choice from the options you mentioned, Shapps is just wank at pretty much everything and Lammy is a racist with a chip on his shoulder! Ah choices choices, we are so lucky aren’t we as an electorate 👍😇!
Ohh yes a right bunch of top draw choices….the only up side is at least Corbin is not an option for priminister….
Agree 100% Farouk – a ‘yes’ man that won’t ask for any more money from the PM and will make defence ‘go away’.
Our Armed Forces deserve better!
No. Next question?
No. Listen to him on the Today programme this morning.
To be fair he was barely asked any questions on Defence in the whole interview. The first, on 2.5%, wasn’t even pressed before he was asked if RAAC was an issue for the MOD. He’d barely answered that before being steered off onto RAAC in schools. If they wanted to ask questions on the condition of the MOD estate, then why not ask those? At least they would be talking about something in the Ministers remit. The Today Programme editors should hang their heads.
Agreed, but no votes in defence, and now the schools are falling down in addition to everything else this lot have ignored.
I was recently canvassed by a Conservative on behalf of their new candidate in my constituency. I’m a floating voter in a marginal, so I sent back the message: there are votes in defence and you are about to lose mine. For all the good it will do.
The quality of comments in this site are abysmal . By all means have an opinion on Grant Shapps , but rude and insulting remarks about him are not necessary or helpful
The quality of comments on this site are actually bloody good if you made an effort at looking at contributors posts, history and experience!
I disagree, grants shapps has consistently proven himself to be useless and deserving of any form of public criticism.
If the man hasn’t been employed as a talking head, why is he already on talk shows and the media circuit? Wallace wasn’t at this stage, Mordaunt wasn’t either. It’s not like he’s talking about Ukraine or anything that urgently requires a defence minister. This is the problem. Somebody should be running the MOD and Shapps nominally has that role. But the reality is that he’ll be spending an increasing proportion of his time explaining non-defence government policy to the media in the run up to the next election. It’s a classic role for a minister without portfolio. The Prime… Read more »
Right someone get this written down for the minister. Army do land. Navy do sea. Airforce do sky. Sometimes roles cross but tends to be if it’s big and grey it’s navy. If it’s brown and green it’s army.
Addendum, Def Sec to note, when on detachment/deployment the following accommodation is provided
Army – dig holes in the ground
Navy – any drunken roadside gutter
RAF – 4* hotels as a minimum. No point in living rough if you don’t have to.
I wonder if he will be thrown in at the deep end. What is going on in Romania? “There have been a number of confusing updates coming out of Romania regarding the possibility of a drone falling onto its territory earlier this week. On Monday, Kyiv claimed Russian drones had fallen onto on Romanian territory during an overnight strike. Bucharest denied the claims in the immediate aftermath. This matters because Romania is in NATO, which deems an attack against one of its members an attack on all. A Ukrainian MP on Monday went as far as accusing Romania of denying… Read more »
I don’t think anyone is going to war because a couple of pieces of metal were found in Romania. During the Cold War, there were instances where Soviet aircraft violated NATO airspace. Nobody thought of going to war.
But the incidence certainly illustrates the wider dangers of the continuing war in Ukraine.
Good job Romania is ordering 36 F35’s 😉
NEWS FROM THE FLIGHT DECK
This will make Russia think twice if it kicks off 😂😂
18 Aug 2023 — Romania expects F-35 Letter of Agreement in 2024, first aircraft in 2030 … in two stages, culminating in delivery of three F-35 squadrons.
Any updates on full-rate production yet? its only 2023.
Meteor? Spear 3 for the F-35B this decade.
TR3 or Block 4 even? How about the AN/APG-85 Radar schedule and the engines to power it and the software 😂
Did your carer type that for you? Good job Finland, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Czech Republic, Greece, Germany, Netherlands,Belgium, Italy are all purchasing F35, which will massively strengthen airpower in Europe. Keeping us safe from those pesky Russians. The same Russians you used to massively big up 😆Thank god none of them have seen your comments eh Nige. 😄 Typhoon will have been in service for 28 years with the RAF before it gets its first AESA radar at IOC. You not slagging that timeframe off?
UPDATE FROM THE FLIGHT DECK “Typhoon will have been in service for 28 years” Exactly 😂😂 The F-35 first flew in 2006 Any updates on full-rate production yet? it’s only 2023. Meteor? Spear 3 for the F-35B this decade. TR3 or Block 4 even? How about the AN/APG-85 Radar schedule and the engines to power it and the software required 😂 As for “The same Russians you used to massively big up 😆Thank god none of them have seen your comments eh Nige.” Let me see these comments, I’m sure everyone else would like to. Or have you reverted to telling lies… Read more »
What’s really funny Nigel. Is that all the above will all be completed. Blk4. Spear 3, and 19 other weapons acrossthe F35 fleet. AN/APG-85 (F35’s 2nd AESA radar) And many other upgrades over the decades. And many more orders. And you will have nothing else to criticise 😆 I’ll watch with pleasure.
LIES FROM THE FLIGHT DECK WHAT A SAD LITTLE MAN YOU ARE ROBERT BLAY Caught red-handed again telling porkies to cover up his lack of knowledge on any given subject to gain some credibility filled with cheap comments to fill in the gaps. How very sad. January 15 2023 19:43 “I think this article explains it in plain enough English for you Nigel from a reputable website. I know you love a link. Or do you still think 6th gen will be available from 2025? that was a cracker of a prediction.” REPLY No doubt the clown in the room… Read more »
I think everyone will spot a serious attack from Russia when and if it comes. Surprised Ukraine even bothered mentioning it. It would need at lot more than a bit of debris.
The appointment of a talentless sycophant by a weak and corrupt PM in a dying, directionless government.
He is just keeping the cabinet seat warm until this whole incompetent shower are kicked out sometime in the next 12mths
The last UK defence secretary with military experience before Ben Wallace was Tom King from 1989 to 1992. Not one of new Labour’s had any military background. So what? What extra does a former captain bring to discussions with generals, admirals and air marshalls?
What is needed is the critical intelligence to grasp issues quickly and ask the right questions.
I don’t know whether Shapps can do that but looking at the last 30 years, how many could and did?
The big decisions on procurement and commitments are all taken by cabinet, not by a def.sec on his own.
In our political system its often going to be the case that we have career politicians in the Defence gig, I’m not arguing that it always should be an ex forces guy but we’re in pretty unusual territory and we had a Defence minister that WAS an ex military man who seemed to be able to deal with guys who are fighting a war. We’re going to have an election in 12 to 15 months so one way or another there will be a change of people in the big seats. I’d rather go with a bit more like for… Read more »
I agree that you don’t need to be from the services to do a good job but the article points out his lack of natural interest in the subject, and my view is simply that his track record on good decisions or any sort of vision is not there, he’s s caretaker and a shark mayor, like Hancock was but happy to be proved wrong.Maybe he’ll now stop with the get rich schemes. Here’s to radical changes in personality, it is possible, rooting for you Shappy.
I’d demur slightly.
It would take 6 months for an outsider to grasp all the acronyms and figure out the organisational structures.
There is also the thing of understanding the feeling of being under fire. Watching movies doesn’t get you close.
Sometimes you do need to cut to the chase which is where BW excelled and just making decisions in a clear manner and being able to take the pressure.
Most people, me included, would struggle with the acronyms in use. I’m not trying to defend Shapps but question the importance of military( esp junior military ) experience. Whereas most cabinet ministers will have just a handful of senior civil servants, paid at similar levels as the minister, , the defence secretary has scores of high ranking officers to run the armed forces. The ministerial role is relatively unimportant. In negotiations with the Treasury, a minister with no particular connection to the military might be more convincing in the argument for funding. What I want to see is a party… Read more »
An example to illustrate your point is John Nott, 4 years in the Gurkha Rifles, rank lieutenant, author of the 1981 Defence White Paper.
Interestingly the thrust of the paper was a focus on NATO at the expense of “out-of-area” operations. That seems to be the Labour defence position currently. It would be as wrong a decision today, if executed upon, as it was back then.
Tugendhat would have been a better choice, at least he has an interest in defence matters. Personally, I’d favour being bold and co – opting Daniele Mandelli into the position.
Agreed, and you can include farouk for added brown job experience, and Gunbuster for grey ships. Any offers for the aviation portfolio?
He posted below – @robert_blay
😄👍
Definitely not JJ.Crabfat😁🧐
Can’t handle non4star drunken ditches 🧐🙃
Thanks, Posse, for that.
Though it’s no doubt thankless task being a politician having to juggle priorities, rob Peter to pay Paul, and try to please everyone, with the funds available.
I’d be sacked within a week for spelling things out all to openly I fear.
I hope and pray Shapps has a good ADC and other advisors round him.
I’m particularly alarmed at him mentioning the RAFs carriers…😳 Jesus Christ…..
Perhaps it something he’s going to push for the RAF to have? https://wallpaperaccess.com/full/6221330.jpg though i fear the Navy might get a wee bit upset?
Impressive!! 😄
Holy shit…..have you seen a crabfat at sea. Not a pretty sight.🤮🤧👍😁
not ‘at’ sea!!! above it lol
Just a slip of the tongue, I’m sure. I’m more worried about other aspects of his defence of personnel cuts, saying numbers aren’t everything, look at the shiny new ships. When CSG21 returned, Wallace thanked the 3,700 people who had been required just to get one of those shiny new ships to the Pacific and back. Numbers matter.
They do. As does the new kit.
It is, as always, a balance.
Well with our nascent space force, he did well to choke back speaking about moon base Alpha – which even has access to an Indian corner shop.
Military experience doesn’t always make a good politician. What the MOD needs is a good politician who can communicate well and negotiate with the Treasury and the enormous defence industrial base and keep major projects on track. Is Grant Shapps that man? who knows. Anyone in post has a very difficult job ahead.
True
BW was a good politician in that he kept his head down and engaged cogwheels.
He also made prompt clear decisions that enabled lemon projects to be cut so the golden projects could be accelerated with the cash headroom.
He’s a straw man lightweight who won’t rock the boat for the pretend PM while he prepares for the next election by using the promised increase in defence spending to buy a few more votes with some pathetic tax cuts and pension increases! Or maybe I’m just cynical……
My hope is that with the spending settlements agreed, and many a major program underway, he won’t cause too much damage before he’s out on his ear anyway mate.
Ive read a decision on the 14 ER Chinooks is one in his in tray as apparently Wallace was close to cancelling it.
I’ve read that as well mate, Wallace used it more as a threat or bargaining chip with the US?
No Airborne,your spot on mate, utterly fuckin useless 👍⭐
Agreed, Shapps or should I say ‘Michael Green’ with the weird get rich schemes, is a depressing appointment. He’s shady, an opportunist and proven to be untrustworthy, which is fine if you want him to be a mayor of a small US beach town that has a shark problem ‘hey folks the beach is open’, but in terms of being the UK Defence Secretary, jeez no. Expect decisions that will need unpicking years later and expect a scant understanding of defence issues and expect nothing in terms of vision or sticking his neck out. I can only hope the shark… Read more »
The world is the most uncertain it’s been since the Second World War and Rishi gifts the MOD a tin of magnolia emulsion, in the form of Grant Shapps. I’m with on Diane Abbott edging it just ✅
Magnolia emulsion is just about the best description I have seen for a useless minister. Might have to borrow that one!
He had a second job under a hidden name and denied it for years. Pretty sure his only in it for the kick backs. Luckily we have an election in a year and very little damage he can do in that time. Highly unlikely he will still be in the job after the election who ever wins.
Ah,That’s where Mr Blobby went.🥳shifty
Educating Grant might be a tall order for somebody in the military but it is their job. These ministers are simply respresentatives of the people who are by and large ignorant of all things military. We have been spoilt with Ben Wallace.
British Army selects new rifle for Rangers and Booties: https://i.postimg.cc/5y11ZwQp/Opera-Snapshot-2023-09-07-010550-www-gov-uk.png British troops will soon be more lethal on the battlefield, as a new £90 million contract delivers modern, high precision rifles. The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system – known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system. The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified… Read more »
And a video somebody knocked out in mins:
No wonder I struggle with my rifle recognition, at 1.12 all those choices look the same!!!
Is this actually manufactured in UK or just an import with some tweaks?
No, imported from the US by Edgar Brothers who are responsible for getting the Rifles UK proofed & all relevant technical publications (AESP’s).
All UK military weapons are procured through a firearms dealer, not direct with the company supplying the weapon, i.e Edgar Brothers, Viking Arms etc.
I thought so. It is shocking that we have no capacity to design and manufacture our own small arms. At the very least, when wholesale replacement of SA 80 is authorized, we should insist on manufacture in the UK l
Agreed
Accuracy International AWM made the sniper rifle. But no company that can make small armes en masse.
Does it take a bayonet?
Defence/security/military matters don’t really features in Shapps’ background (whereas they clearly did with his predecessor). But how many government ministers actually have any expertise specific to the departments they nominally head? If Ministers were allocated to roles based on their specific expertise then the concept of a ‘Cabinet reshuffle’ wouldn’t exist.
Some have already had experience in the same or an allied ministry at a more junior level, or they’ve held the shadow post or have been on a relevant select committee. For example Theresa Coffey, Gillian Kegan, Steve Barclay and James Cleverly all did junior ministerial jobs in the same or allied ministries. Suella Bravernam was a barrister and Attorney General, Alex Chalk barrister and Solicitor General.
Not all do, but there’s plenty of opportunity in a long running government to appoint people with relevant experience of one form or another.
90+% of all politicians have ZERO experience or qualification to hold the post, it should be a pre-req. But the sorry state of politics globally leaves me to consider that the best option would be to do what Gerneral Cheeseburger ordered.
🤗
I don’t know what a start ,I wonder how many Destroyers the RAF have and the number of Typhoons the RN have 🙄 🙏
Wow,why the hell do these useless politicians put in idiots to jobs they know nothing about ,shapps that is scrapping the barrel ,thank fxxxxxg God these idiots will be gone ,then we will have to see what labour offers ?
This is what Grant Shapps has just said to Sky news, reported in forces.net:
“”We gifted 14 of these Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. We accept that in a war zone, there can be material losses, which is what’s happened here,” Mr Shapps told Sky News.
“I can also confirm that all six of the military in the tank, the Ukrainians, were actually able to survive this, which is a great testament to that British kit.
“This is the sort of thing that happens, but we’ll always keep what we’re providing the Ukrainians with under close review.”
Six?!
I think a subject matter breakdown within those questions may be more revealing.
On the bright side, Shoigu he ain’t. Here’s hoping we’re pleasantly surprised how he steps up to the role