• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Grant Shapps confuses RAF and Royal Navy after just one week in job

This latest misstep comes hours after Shapps failed to list the number of ranks in the Army.

Oliver Murphy by Oliver Murphy
2023-09-07 11:17
in News, Politics
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Grant Shapps has confused the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy less than two weeks into his new role as defence secretary.

Appearing on LBC, Shapps told Nick Ferrari that the UK’s aircraft carriers are “the largest carriers the RAF has ever had.”

Seemingly unbeknown to the defence secretary, aircraft carriers are actually constructed and operated by the Royal Navy.

This latest misstep comes just hours after Shapps was left red-faced on Sky News for failing to list the number of ranks in the Army.

The former energy security and net zero minister replaced Ben Wallace who announced his resignation last week.

Wallace, Mr Shapps’ predecessor and a former Army officer, played a crucial role in generating international support to arm the Ukrainian military following Russia’s invasion. 

In his resignation letter, he warned that “over the next decade, the world will get more insecure and unstable.” 

This is the fifth cabinet post to be held by Shapps in a year – having served as transport secretary under Boris Johnson, home secretary for six days under Liz Truss, and as business secretary before his most recent appointment as energy secretary. 

The former transport secretary has had to defend his appointment following questions over the depth of his military knowledge and accusations that he was selected purely because of his loyalty to Rishi Sunak.

RelatedPosts

“They were lied to”: Lee Anderson tells MP to ‘shut up’ while big boss Farage asks about Brexit at PMQs

Keir Starmer shuts down Kemi Badenoch with brutal one word answer in PMQs

Nigel Farage support has ‘topped out’, says pollster

75% of Brits want wealth tax on super rich

On whether he knew the number of Army ranks, Shapps told Kay Burley: “Not off the top off my head, but on your main question, what I would say is, look, what the Ministry of Defence needs is highly-experienced cabinet ministers who can run a complex infrastructure-orientated department.”

Burley persisted, adding: “Do you want me to tell you how many ranks there are? From field Marshall all the way down to office cadet, number 12 in total.

By now a very red-faced Shapps, replied: “Very good. Thank you.”

Reactions to the minister’s latest blunder were far from forgiving on social media. Here’s a pick of the best:

Hardly surprising, given that Shapps has previously confused his own name with those of Corinne Stockheath, Michael Green and Sebastian Fox… https://t.co/1VynfzRg7A

— Chris Shaw (@The_ChrisShaw) September 6, 2023

give him a break, the first few weeks of any job are about finding where you make coffee and learning the difference between plane and boat https://t.co/rOcZ0FKisI

— James Felton (@JimMFelton) September 6, 2023

Just imagine a Labour Defence Secretary had done this

Can you imagine how Tories would be reacting https://t.co/Fw4rDWTjYL

— ScottishPanda (@PandaScottish) September 6, 2023

OMG. @grantshapps just told @NickFerrariLBC on @LBC that the Royal Air Force has the "biggest aircraft carriers ever"…. and he's our DEFENCE SECRETARY!

I'm pretty sure the aircraft carriers are operated by the Royal NAVY rather than the RAF?

— Jason J Hunter (Not a noble Lord) (@JJHTweets) September 6, 2023

Always a good sign when the Defence Secretary can't tell the difference between the RAF and the Royal Navy. Idiot.https://t.co/apK9gi2Evt

— That Welsh Fella (@Tht_Welsh_Fella) September 6, 2023

Just a minor oversight! 🤦 “New defence secretary Grant Shapps confuses RAF with Royal Navy” : ITV News https://t.co/43WIS5U3yX

— Bob M 🇬🇧💫 (@bobmca1) September 7, 2023

Speaking on LBC, the new Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, stated that HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales were the biggest aircraft carriers the RAF has ever had. When was the last time you saw an RAF airfield at sea? There'll be mutiny in the Royal Navy at this rate. ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/xbPA7RcdCP

— Andrew M Wade (@seavixen899) September 6, 2023

Is Group Squadron Admiral Midshipman Grant "Michael Green Beret" Shapps, a bit of out of his depth?https://t.co/cK5IsrKBXY

— Ahmer Wadee (@ahmerwadee) September 6, 2023

Oh dear. The UK's new Defence Secretary @GrantShapps appears confused already.

He has boasted the UK's aircraft carriers are "the largest carriers the RAF has ever had", despite the fact aircraft carriers are built & operated by the Royal Navy, not the Royal Air Force… pic.twitter.com/B5JBEy194e

— Dave Sumner Smith (@davesumnersmith) September 7, 2023
https://twitter.com/GrahamJones_PPC/status/1699702154984931415?s=20

Related: Watch: The moment Grant Shapps’ lack of Army knowledge is exposed

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← TUC leader accuses Tories of ‘rewarding wealth not work’ ← Night train service between Paris and Berlin to start again after nine years
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->