Shapps is the majority shareholder in London design and printing business Printhouse Corporation, which is based in north London, not far from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

The last year has proved something of a wild ride for the politician, nicknamed ‘spreadsheet Shapps’ for using one to gauge the sentiments of other Conservative MPs around key issues.

In September 2022 Liz Truss removed him from the role of Transport Secretary at the beginning of her short-lived and disastrous 49-day stint as Prime Minister.

The following month Truss made Shapps Home Secretary as her tenure descended into chaos.

Just a week later, after Truss resigned, fresh PM Rishi Sunak appointed Shapps as Business Secretary, with the role subsequently morphing to Energy Security Secretary earlier this year.

This morning (31 August), Sunak appointed Shapps as his new Secretary of State for Defence.

He replaces Ben Wallace, who announced his plans to step down last month.

Posting on X, formerly Twitter, Shapps said he was honoured to be appointed to the defence role: “As I get to work at @DefenceHQ I am looking forward to working with the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our nation’s security. And continuing the UK’s support for Ukraine in their fight against Putin’s barbaric invasion.”

Amid a merry-go-round of ministers Wallace had been the joint longest-serving person in the cabinet at four years and one month, the same as Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack.

Claire Coutinho will replace Shapps as Energy Secretary.