- Rishi Sunak has attempted to assemble a cabinet in his image.
- Grant Shapps should take Ben Wallace’s place for a very logical reason.
- Mr. Sunak will view this as making a trade-off between the needs of an imminent election.
Rishi Sunak has attempted to assemble a cabinet in his image, but the reorganization, which was already underway in May, made only modest progress in doing so.
This has led to whispers that some Conservative Party members are not yet ready for a senior staff that too strongly reflects his personality. He will now probably undergo a second reorganization before the year is over.
Cabinet reshuffle
We learn a lot about Mr. Sunak from the reasoning behind the three judgments made today. Grant Shapps should take Ben Wallace’s place for a very logical reason. Many people were drawn to Mr. Wallace because of his passion for the military, his status with the Tories, his willingness to challenge the Treasury and other ministers, and his crucial role in Ukraine.
Not all of these, though, were well received by Number 10, who thought they amounted to conceited behavior on the international stage and constant requests for money.
Shapps’ appointment marks a shift in strategy because he plans to exploit his increased notoriety to spread the government’s message. The senior Tories are aware that they don’t have many top-tier media talents, therefore the defense role has the advantage of not having the responsibilities of the energy position.
It is not a well-known fact that Mr. Shapps gets involved in disagreements with Treasury officials or fights with cabinet members. He is well-liked in general and had the self-assurance last year to make his own, albeit fleeting, leadership run.
However, Mr. Sunak will view this as making a trade-off between the needs of an imminent election and the requirement for comprehensive military or international affairs experience, one that he will be happy to accept.
