On Monday 15 January, Grant Shapps gave a speech at Lancaster House in London. His words shook the UK, as he reiterated the importance of defending Britain from ‘a more dangerous world’. He said that ‘in five years’ time we could be looking at multiple theatres including Russia, China, Iran and North Korea’. Shapps made it clear that the UK’s actions in the here and now will define our future:
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Ask yourself, looking at today’s conflicts across the world, is it more likely that that number grows or reduces? I suspect we all know the answer. It’s likely to grow, so 2024 must mark an inflection point.
This has had many people talking about Grant Shapps, who was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 31 August 2023 by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. But what do we know about his wife Belinda and their family? Here’s a run-down on the politician’s personal life.
Grant Shapps’ wife Belinda
Shapps was elected as the Tory MP for Welwyn Hatfield in 2005 and has held a number of positions over the years including Home Secretary and Transport Secretary. His wife’s job could not be further from the world of politics: Belinda is a humanistic integrative therapist, according to reports. Kay’s Counselling Clinic explains this approach ‘believes in working with you as a whole person, including your feelings, physical body, mind and spirit’.
She was formerly director of the since-dissolved cluster-to-cash company Auction Girl Limited. Before starting her career, she studied at Leeds Metropolitan University. Indeed, she and Grant met in a pub in Leeds in 1995 and she later relocated to London to be with him.
Grant and Belinda Shapps’ family
Grant and Belinda married in 1997. The pair tend to keep their private life private, but we do know that they have three children together.
They have a son named Hadley who was born in 2001, and twins Tabytha and Noa who joined the family in 2004. Grant was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1999, which pushed him to freeze his eggs. All his and Belinda’s children were conceived through IVF.
During his battle with cancer, Grant underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After a year, he was told the treatment had been successful. He has shared how emotional the ordeal was for both him and Belinda, telling the Guardian his wife was ‘brilliant’ during that time:
She said to me, you can't die, we've got too much to do together.
Grant and his family live in Welwyn Hatfield, where they hosted a Ukrainian family as part of the Ukraine scheme, which saw British families open their doors to people fleeing from the Russian invasion of the country.
Read more:
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Sources used:
Sky News: 'It's an extended family': Grant Shapps and Ukrainian refugees describe living together
The Sun: MEET THE MISSUS Who is Grant Shapps’ wife Belinda and do they have children?
GOV.UK: Defending Britain from a more dangerous world
