People will remain at the heart of UK military, new Defence Secretary says
Grant Shapps says people will remain at the heart of the UK Armed Forces, as he completed his first visits to the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force as Defence Secretary.
The new Secretary of State for Defence gave his steadfast commitment to supporting service personnel and families.
Mr Shapps visited the Navy in Portsmouth, where he heard from personnel about their experiences and opportunities in the military. He toured Type 45 HMS Defender and met with representatives from defence partner BAE Systems.
The new Defence Secretary paid a visit to the British Army on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, where he and Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders spoke to the UK soldiers at the heart of the UK-led training programme which has, so far, trained more than 23,000 Ukrainians.
Mr Shapps observed the training and heard their inspirational stories, before being briefed on Army priorities, including modernisation.
In his first interview with Forces News since being appointed Defence Secretary, Mr Shapps said the military is "nothing if it hasn't got great people in it" and wants to put "an emphasis on things that matter to servicemen and women".
The Defence Secretary accompanied the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, to RAF Waddington, where he met personnel who operate Rivet Joint and Reaper aircraft in 51 and XIII Squadrons. Mr Shapps was also briefed on the RAF's intelligence-gathering roles.
He also met Commander General Sir Jim Hockenhull – head of Strategic Command – who briefed him on the work of personnel specialising in cyber, intelligence, medicine and logistics.
It comes after Mr Shapps made his first visit to Ukraine as Defence Secretary, where he and Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, reaffirmed UK support for President Zelensky.
Mr Shapps said Russian President Vladimir Putin has "lost control of the war" and that he was confident of replenishing UK stockpiles as British support for Ukraine continues.
"There is just no point in us sitting on kit whilst a country – no further to fly to than say going to a Greek island on holiday in terms of the distance by plane – is overrun.
"We know what happens if you don't stop a tyrant. This was definitely the moment for us to step up and, yes, we will make sure we replenish our own supplies."
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