Defence Secretary Ben Wallace won’t rule out bid to be PM if Boris is toppled
TOP Tory Ben Wallace refused to rule out a bid to be Prime Minister if Boris Johnson is forced to step down.
But the Defence Secretary and Bojo loyalist said the PM was “going nowhere” despite being touted by some Tory MPs as the man to step into the breach.
Boris Johnson is recovering from the body blow confidence vote where 41 per cent of his backbenches admitted they had lost faith in him.
Speaking to The Sun, Mr Wallace said Boris WOULD lead the party into the next election despite the bruising defeat.
Asked if he’s flattered to be named as a potential successor, he said: “I’m a better Defence Secretary.”
However he added: “I've often said I’m not really interested because I'm interested in being the Defence Secretary.
“But as I’ve said on the record I'm a politician ultimately - I'm in the business of trying to problem solve and make the country better for people.
“That's what a politician is there to do,and opportunities to do that are few and far between.”
He also lasted out at Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Angela Rayner for calling the PM a “liar, liar, liar” after his narrow confidence victory.
Mr Wallace said there were questions of honesty and integrity over the way the opposition chiefs had been truthful over their 'currygate' bash, adding: “I don't think the Labour Party have been entirely honest.”
The April 2021 event is currently subject to a Durham police probe, with Sir Keir and his deputy pledging to resign if fined.
Speaking on the way to a conference of 12 defence ministers in Iceland he said, “They have hardly acted in the spirit of openness and transparency or integrity over what went on in Durham.”
He added: “I think after 12 years, you are in a position where all governments lose the benefit of the doubt and mud sticks.
“No one has once accused Starmer of lying or Angela Rayner of lying even when they accidentally forgot she was there in the room and their excuse was that an official was confused.
“That was completely accepted”
Slapping down the wanna-be PM he said Sir Keir has “consistencies beyond being inconsistent”
He added: “He campaigned to abolish the monarchy. Now he's wrapping himself in the flag of the monarchy.
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“He sat on Corbyn benches for many years when over 100 Labour MPs resigned from shadow government in protest. “
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Mr Wallace said Sir Keir is trying “to pull one over on the electorate” adding: “It’s not a matter of dishonesty, it is inconsistent to the extent that he is hard to trust.
“Would the real Keir Starmer please stand up?”