UK defence minister Wallace to step down as MP at next election

Wallace, who has been defence minister for four years and helped lead the UK response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, warns Britain faces more conflict this decade

Wallace had been considered as a potential successor to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg but Stoltenberg’s contract was recently extended by another year

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British defence secretary Ben Wallace in Singapore on June 2. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:35am, 16 Jul 2023

British defence minister Ben Wallace will not stand as a member of parliament (MP) in the next UK national election and will leave government when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak carries out his next cabinet reshuffle, he told The Sunday Times newspaper.

Wallace, a member of the ruling Conservative Party, has been MP for Wyre and Preston North and its predecessor constituency in northwest England since 2005.

He has been defence secretary for four years, helping lead Britain’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and UK defence secretary Ben Wallace. Photo: Bloomberg

“I’m not standing next time,” he said in an interview with the newspaper, but ruled out going “prematurely” and forcing another by-election.

Sunak is facing three by-elections next week, and opinion polls suggest his Conservative Party could lose all of them.

A general election must be held in Britain within the next 18 months. The Sunday Times said a cabinet reshuffle was expected in September.

The newspaper said Wallace told Sunak his plans on June 16 but had hoped to make the announcement over the summer before leaks forced his hand.

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