Ben Wallace mentioned his time in politics has “been a long slog” as he prepares to step down as defence secretary, however he insisted he was leaving the army in a greater state.
Asked how he felt about quitting a job he beloved, the minister and former military officer mentioned: “Look, we at all times must let go of issues. That’s life… There’s extra to life than only one job generally.
“You have lots of other things as well. And it’s just… I’m happy to go.”
Mr Wallace, 53, made headlines over the weekend by revealing that he deliberate to stop as defence secretary on the subsequent reshuffle, anticipated within the autumn, and to depart politics on the subsequent election.
It got here after a bid by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to make the veteran politician the following secretary common of NATO failed final month.
Speaking to Sky News forward of an announcement on Tuesday about an up to date blueprint for the form and measurement of the armed forces, the defence secretary talked about why he had determined to stroll away from defence whilst conflict nonetheless raged in Europe.
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Mr Wallace has been an arch supporter of Ukraine, pushing the UK and its allies to go additional and sooner with more and more deadly weapons.
“It’s been a long slog,” he mentioned, talking on the parade floor at Wellington Barracks in London.
“I left this barracks in 1998, right. I’m not standing the next election, right. I went into the Scottish Parliament in 1999. I’m not standing in the next election.
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“Once I made a decision that, it is solely honest the prime minister within the subsequent reshuffle has a defence secretary that may struggle the election alongside him. There’s no level me preventing election alongside a first-rate minister after which [say to him:] I’m going.
“It’s essential that the prime minister has the most effective group he can for the following election and I believe it is completely applicable that I stood down.
“I’ve done four years as the defence secretary, I’ve done three years as security minister. I think we’re leaving it in a better state… Britain is back on the map in defence. I think it’s in a healthy state, it’s improving, it’s investing, it’s time for someone else.”
Asked who he thought that particular person is perhaps as his successor, Mr Wallace declined to remark.
Content Source: information.sky.com