Ben Wallace formally resigns as British defense secretary after 4 years in role

Ben Wallace has formally resigned as the United Kingdom’s secretary for defense after serving four years in the role.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office announced Thursday that Wallace had formally stepped down as the country’s defense secretary, more than a month after he said that he would resign in the next UK government cabinet reshuffle.

Wallace, who has been in the UK parliament for 18 years, is regarded as the longest-serving Conservative defense secretary since Winston Churchill.

In a letter to 53-year-old Wallace, Sunak praised the “dedication and skill” Wallace brought to the role that saw him take a leading role in Western allies’ support for Ukraine against Russia.

“You have served our country with distinction,” the British premier further said, adding that he had seen “before others did what Vladimir Putin's true intentions in Ukraine were.”

“Your determination to get Kiev weaponry before the Russians attacked had a material effect on the ability of the Ukrainians to thwart the invasion,” Sunak further hailed Wallace, who said he would also quit as a legislator at the next national election in order to pursue new opportunities and to “invest in the parts of life I have neglected.”

A former army officer, Wallace was London’s choice to replace Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general. However, due to receiving insufficient support from the United States, Wallace failed to become the head of the US-led military alliance.

Wallace was picked as defense secretary by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson back in July 2019 after holding junior ministerial posts in earlier governments.

UK lawmaker formally quits, accuses PM Sunak of running a ‘zombie parliament’

Conservative UK lawmaker announced her resignation from the UK House of Commons, accusing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of running a “zombie parliament.”

Additionally, on Thursday, the British government named former energy secretary Grant Shapps, a key Sunak ally, as Wallace's successor while appointing Claire Coutinho as the new energy secretary.

Sunak has already begun a mini Cabinet reshuffle ahead of a general election that is expected to take place in 2024.

Back in April, the then British deputy prime minister Dominic Raab also resigned following an independent investigation into complaints that he had bullied colleagues, dealing another heavy blow to Sunak's embattled government. 

Over the weekend, Nadine Dorries, a prominent member of the UK Parliament, lashed out at Sunak after stepping down, accusing him of running a “zombie parliament” and lacking any political vision.

“Since you took office a year ago, the country is run by a zombie parliament where nothing meaningful has happened. What exactly has been done or have you achieved?” she said in a lengthy resignation letter that tore into the British prime minister.

The by-election to replace the outgoing MP will likely take place in the autumn, presenting the Conservatives with another test of their popularity when they are trailing the opposition Labour Party in opinion polls.

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