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Ben Wallace has confirmed he plans to resign on the subsequent Cupboard reshuffle and won’t search re-election as an MP after 4 years as Defence Secretary.
Mr Wallace, who survived three prime ministers as Defence Secretary and performed a key function within the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, introduced the information on Saturday.
His Wyre and Preston North constituency will disappear on the subsequent election after boundary modifications and he mentioned he wouldn’t search a brand new seat.
He joins greater than 40 different Tory MPs to step down on the subsequent election.
Mr Wallace, who was an in depth ally of Boris Johnson, instructed The Occasions: “I’m not standing subsequent time.”
He confirmed he won’t depart “prematurely” and pressure a by-election.
The defence secretary went on to speak of his fears of future wars: “In direction of the top of the last decade, the world goes to be rather more unsafe, extra insecure. I believe we are going to discover ourselves in a battle. Whether or not it’s a chilly or a heat battle, I believe we’ll be in a tough place.”
Citing the China state of affairs and “a complete breakdown of politics within the Pacific”, he added: “You possibly can end up by 2030 ready of chilly conflict.”
Mr Wallace, 53, is a favorite amongst Tory members and topped the Conservative House web site’s July ballot of hottest cupboard ministers.
He had a internet satisfaction approval score of +77.1, forward of second-placed overseas secretary James Cleverly, on +54.4, and enterprise and commerce secretary Kemi Badenoch in third, on +43.9.
He had expressed an curiosity in standing for the function of Nato secretary-general earlier than it was introduced the present chief, Jens Stoltenberg, had been given one other 12 months in cost.
Final week, Rishi Sunak shut down feedback from Mr Wallace through which he prompt Ukraine ought to present “gratitude” for the navy help it had been given.
Mr Wallace had made the comment after the nation’s president Volodymyr Zelensky branded it “absurd” for Nato to insist there have been nonetheless situations for his nation to satisfy earlier than it may possibly acquire membership as soon as the conflict with Russia is over.
Mr Zelensky later mentioned: “I imagine that we had been at all times grateful to the UK.
“I don’t know what he meant and the way else we ought to be grateful.”
Mr Wallace is the longest constantly serving minister in authorities, having been safety minister underneath Theresa Might earlier than being promoted to defence secretary by Mr Johnson and persevering with the function underneath his two successors.
He was beforehand appointed as a whip in 2014 and a junior minister within the Northern Eire Workplace in 2015 whereas David Cameron was prime minister.
The Wyre and Preston North MP dominated himself out of the operating for the Conservative management final 12 months, regardless of being an early frontrunner within the race to exchange Mr Johnson.
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