2023-08-31 11:12:40
He played a key role in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Britain’s defense minister has formally resigned, Downing Street announced on Thursday. Ben Wallace, 53, had indicated during the summer his intention to withdraw from political life after nine years in government, including four in Defense.
“I was elected MP in 2005 and after so many years it is time to invest in the aspects of life that I have neglected and to explore new opportunities,” he wrote in his letter. of resignation issued by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office. in the process, the latter appointed Grant Shapps, a faithful support, to replace him. This conservative, who will celebrate his 55th birthday in September, had been Minister of Energy Security and Carbon Neutrality since February.
At the Ministry of Defense since 2019
Ben Wallace has played a key role in the support of Western countries for Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. Candidate for the post of Secretary General of NATO, he failed to obtain the approval of the States States, and Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg was reappointed.
Elected to the British Parliament for 18 years, Ben Wallace is the person who has remained in the Ministry of Defense the longest since Winston Churchill, taking office there in 2019, after serving as Theresa May’s security minister. He is the only minister in charge of a leading portfolio to have remained in office in the last three governments: that of his ally Boris Johnson, that, ephemeral, of Liz Truss, and finally that of Rishi Sunak.
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