Ben Wallace Ponders Sudden Exit from UK Government

Ben Wallace, the British defence secretary, is reportedly considering leaving the UK government after four years in the role. The Times claims that Mr. Wallace is weighing up whether to exit politics entirely, but it is unclear if a final decision has been made. Sources close to the matter emphasize that any departure would not be related to the current challenges faced by the Conservative Party.

During his tenure, Mr. Wallace has played a significant role in responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He was also a close ally of Boris Johnson, whom he served under. Despite his close ties to Mr. Johnson, Mr. Wallace has remained supportive of the British government and its current leaders, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

In the past, Mr. Wallace had expressed interest in standing for the role of Nato secretary-general, but this is no longer a possibility following the announcement that the current chief, Jens Stoltenberg, would be granted an additional year in charge. Mr. Wallace later downplayed the prospect of a future bid for the position.

Recently, Mr. Wallace faced criticism after suggesting that Ukraine should show “gratitude” for the military support it received. This comment was met with dismay by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who branded it “absurd” for Nato to insist that Ukraine must still meet certain conditions before it can become a member of the alliance. Mr. Zelenskiy further stated that he believed Ukraine had always been grateful to the United Kingdom and was unclear what else it could do to express its appreciation.

Mr. Wallace is a popular figure within the Conservative Party and has been the longest continuously serving minister in the UK government. Prior to his appointment as defence secretary, he served as security minister under Theresa May and as a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Office during David Cameron’s premiership. Despite being an early frontrunner in the race to replace Boris Johnson as Conservative leader, Mr. Wallace ultimately ruled himself out of the running.