Wells MP James Heappey has been appointed a minister of state at the Ministry of Defence by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the latest Government reshuffle.

Mr Heappey previously held the role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, a title he had held since 2020.

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Yesterday (July 7), the former army officer declared he would not stand down from his role, despite a record-breaking number of Government officials resigning in defiance of Boris Johnson's leadership.

He said: “I continue to serve in an important role in Government supporting Ukraine and responding to security challenges around the world that follow in the war’s wake.

“Many colleagues have spoken on the PM’s future – I agree with what is being said. But important national security work must continue.”

The newly-appointed Defence minister is currently visiting the UAE to observe how the UK supports maritime security in the region.

“I am very grateful to the Prime Minister for asking me to continue to serve in my role at the Ministry of Defence as the Minister for the Armed Forces," Wells MP, James Heappey told the Mercury.

"It has been an extraordinarily busy two-and-a-half years, leading the response from the Armed Forces to the Covid pandemic, as well as the evacuation from Afghanistan, and now the war in Ukraine.

“It is my great honour to serve with our Armed Forces as a Minister in the MOD but, of course, my priority will always be my service to represent the communities I do here in Somerset.”