WON'T GO
Ben Wallace will quit as defence secretary at the next Cabinet reshuffle as he ruled out leaving early
DEFENCE Secretary Ben Wallace has announced he is quitting politics - as he warned the world is becoming a more dangerous place.
He will leave his Cabinet post at the next reshuffle - expected in September - and step down as a Tory MP at the next general election, ruling out leaving early and triggering a by-election.
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The Sun on Sunday revealed earlier this month that Mr Wallace was considering quitting Rishi Sunak’s government as he weighed up his future.
The MP for Wyre and Preston North and dad-of-three began his Westminster career in 2005.
His announcement - in an interview with - is a big blow for the PM ahead of the next election.
Mr Wallace - who has steered Britain’s military through the fall of Afghanistan and the invasion of Ukraine - said: “I’m not standing next time.
“I went into politics in the Scottish Parliament in 1999. That’s 24 years. I’ve spent well over seven years with three phones by my bed.”
In a frank and wide-ranging interview, he warned the world is becoming a more dangerous place.
“Towards the end of the decade, the world is going to be much more unsafe, more insecure,” he said.
“I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or warm conflict, I think we’ll be in a difficult position.”
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On Russia, he warned that Vladimir Putin could “lash out” and become an even bigger danger to the UK if he loses in Ukraine, warning: “Putin is not done with us yet.”
While China poses a threat in the South China Sea.
“We could see a total breakdown of politics in the Pacific. You could find yourself by 2030 in a position of Cold War”, Mr Wallace said.
While a resurgent Al Qaeda or IS could kick off a serious conflict in Africa, he warned.
Mr Wallace is the longest serving Conservative Defence Secretary since Sir Winston Churchill.
He won huge acclaim abroad and popularity at home for his leadership in the Ukraine war and work during the fall of Afghanistan.
But his proudest achievement was winning a £24billion boost to the defence budget.
Mr Wallace was in the running to be the next Secretary General of Nato. But his hopes were dashed after the US sided against him.
In a parting shot at America for the decision, he added: “Why do you not support your closest ally when they put forward a candidate? I think it's a fair question.”
He joins an exodus of around 40 Tory MPs who have announced they are quitting at the next election - with more expected to follow.
Despite polls predicting a Tory defeat and party MPs quitting, Mr Wallace insists the election is “definitely up for grabs”.
Wallace previously worked as a minister in the Northern Ireland department and at the Home Office.
James Cleverly is the frontrunner to replace him - freeing up the plum job of Foreign Secretary for someone else.
The PM is expected to focus his reshuffle on the mid-ranking ministerial level.
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A host of female rising stars - including key Rishi allies Claire Coutinho and Laura Trott - are expected to get promotions.
But No10 is also believed to be drawing up more radical plans to shuffle the ministerial deck in case Mr Sunak decides to do a bolder overhaul ahead of the next election.
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