Ione Wells and Sean Seddon BBC News
1 hour ago
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Ben Wallace announced that he will step down from the Ministry of Defense in the next cabinet reshuffle, after four years in the position.
He told the Sunday Times that he would not stand in the next general election, but ruled out leaving “prematurely” and causing a by-election.
Wallace served as Minister of Defense under three prime ministers, and played a prominent role on behalf of the United Kingdom in the Ukraine war.
Sources have told the BBC they expect the next reshuffle in September.
Reportedly, Rishi Sunak is planning to make some changes in his ministerial team, but the date is not yet confirmed.
Wallace said he was giving up his role as a political leader because of the loss to his family, and those close to him said his decision had nothing to do with Sunak’s administration.
His constituency “Werry and Preston North” is set to disappear at the next election, in light of the upcoming changes to constituency boundaries, and he told the newspaper that he would not seek to run through a new constituency.
The 53-year-old’s confirmation of his decision to the Sunday Times comes after days of speculation that he was considering leaving government.
The BBC has learned that Wallace informed the Prime Minister on 16 June of his decision to step down from his role in Cabinet.
Wallace told The Sunday Times: “I got into politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999. This is my 24th year. I’ve spent more than seven years with three phones by my bed.”
He made it clear in the interview that he would continue to advocate for increased military spending, something he has campaigned for throughout his time in office.
This comes weeks after Wallace announced that he would not run for the next Secretary General of NATO, a role he was reportedly seeking.
The announcement that Jens Stoltenberg would actually continue in office dashed his hopes of becoming the next leader of the military alliance.
Wallace has played a strong role in supporting Ukraine, including overseeing the transfer of weapons and vehicles to its military.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine boosted his reputation as defense minister at home and abroad.
Wallace is a popular figure in the Conservative Party and was sometimes seen as a front-runner to become party leader, despite not standing in the leadership election.
Wallace has served in the role longer than any Conservative defense secretary before him, but he told the Sunday Times he was aware of the impact the job would have on his family.
“While I’ve been proud to work with so many amazing people and have helped protect this great country, the price I paid for putting my work above my family makes me sad,” Wallace said.
Before entering politics as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Wallace served in the army as an officer in the Scots Guards.
He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2005 and previously served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and in the Home Office.
Some conservatives may view this decision as a major blow to the party.
Ben Wallace has always been very popular with members of the Conservative Party, and some even urged him to run to be the next leader of the party, when Boris Johnson resigned, but decided not to run.
His decision also leaves a huge vacancy in the government, which Rishi Sunak will have to fill.
Wallace, a former soldier, has spent 24 years in politics; First in the Scottish Parliament, then later in Westminster, and has worked in government since David Cameron was prime minister.
An experienced soldier would have to be found to fill his position at a critical time.
As the war in Ukraine continues, all eyes will be on looking for someone with experience and stature to take on the challenge of leading the UK’s role in this matter.
The next step for him remains unclear. Where he will serve as a Member of Parliament until the next elections, but he has already revealed that he is out of the race to run for the position of the next Secretary General of NATO.
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2023-07-15 23:53:58
