British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, who had recently warned that he intended to resign, formally resigned on Thursday, the government announced.
Ben Wallace, 53, had expressed his intention over the summer to retire from political life after nine years in government, four of them as defense minister.
“I was elected as an MP in 2005 and after so many years, the time has come to dedicate myself to the aspects of life that I have neglected and to explore new opportunities,” he wrote in his resignation letter published by the presidency minister, Rishi Sunak, who should announce the name of the successor shortly.
In the letter, Wallace praised the UK’s response to the war in Ukraine and thanked Sunak for his investment in the military as well as his “friendship”, adding: “You and the government will have my continued support.”
In response, the prime minister wrote that Wallace “has served the country with distinction”, praising his “foresightedness and strategic vision”.
Renowned for his role in supporting Ukraine in the face of a Russian invasion, Wallace was tipped as a possible candidate for Conservative Party leader and prime minister, but he dropped out of the race to replace Boris Johnson last summer and instead endorsed the eventual winner Liz Truss. .
Source: TSF
