Is Rishi Sunak surrounding himself with individuals who inform him what he desires to listen to?

The resignation of Ben Wallace was no shock, however Rishi Sunak’s alternative of alternative has ruffled some feathers.

Wallace was by far the preferred cupboard minister earlier than his exit, with a recognition ranking of +76, in comparison with simply +3 for his alternative, in keeping with ConservativeHome’s month-to-month rankings.

But regardless of his lack of recognition or navy expertise, Shapps is seen as a easy operator and an ready communicator on the airwaves.

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The new defence secretary can also be identified for his presence on social media, refusing to depart TikTok after it was banned on authorities gadgets resulting from safety causes.

This is one thing the prime minister will see as an asset, as he’s eager on snappy social media posts, explainer graphics and movies to interact the general public on authorities coverage.

Moreover, in final yr’s summer season management race (after dropping out himself) Shapps backed Sunak’s bid to turn out to be PM, so is seen as a loyalist and ally in Number 10.

And the plain tensions between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury underneath Wallace may have seemingly performed a component within the prime minister’s resolution to interchange him with somebody much less prone to kick up a fuss over defence spending.

Wallace’s legacy can be that of a secretary of state who fought tooth and nail for his division, partly resulting from his relentless battling for the rise of the defence price range.

He is a former soldier and is personally and emotionally invested within the Armed Forces in a means that Shapps can by no means be.

This ought to imply Sunak may have much less aggravation from the MoD over departmental budgets transferring ahead to the Autumn Statement and subsequent yr’s Budget.

But with a loyalist unlikely to trigger nice difficulties for the Treasury forward of the subsequent basic election, will defence figures see this as an ominous signal of what’s to return?

Labour sources inform me they consider Wallace’s report on the British Armed Forces has been poor and that they need to see Shapps increase sources.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have referred to as Shapps a “yes-man” who will go away the UK much less protected because of this.

But it isn’t simply the opposition which can be lower than enthused by the brand new rent.

One Tory MP and former cupboard minister tells me: “He’s very good at self-promotion – not sure he’s so good at actually doing the job.

“And it exhibits as soon as once more that Number 10 has an absence of judgement. Shapps has no following within the get together.”

Also, the appointment of Claire Coutinho as the brand new vitality safety secretary – one other staunch Sunak loyalist – is seen by a few of her fellow MPs as a little bit of a stretch.

Elected in 2019 and having been a minister for lower than 12 months, Coutinho can be eager to show her skill in a division so essential to the way forward for the British economic system.