Ben Wallace resigns as defence secretary – learn his letter in full

Ben Wallace has resigned as defence secretary forward of an anticipated reshuffle from the prime minister.

Mr Wallace had mentioned he would resign from the function the next time Rishi Sunak made changes to his cabinet – ahead of standing down at the next election.

Read his resignation letter in full:

Dear prime minister,

Last month marked my fourth 12 months as secretary of state for defence. It additionally marks the ninth 12 months as a minister. I’ve had the privilege of serving you and your predecessors within the activity of defending this nice nation and protecting its residents protected.

As you recognize that accountability carries with it a 24/7 responsibility to be accessible at virtually no discover. In my time as each safety minister and at defence, I’ve been in a position to contribute to the federal government’s response to a variety of threats and incidents.

From Wannacry, the 2017 terrorist assaults, the Salisbury poisonings, Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine, it has been an honour to serve alongside the women and men of our Armed Forces and intelligence providers who sacrifice a lot for our safety.

The final 4 years has seen our Armed Forces and their management shine by means of. Whether it was the evacuation of Kabul, our COVID response, Ukraine or Sudan, the professionalism of our folks has been first-class.

The funding you made in defence as chancellor and the continued assist you may have proven as prime minister has been key to enabling the Ministry of Defence to ship for Britain. I’m personally very grateful on your management.

As I end my tenure, I can mirror that the Ministry of Defence that I depart is now extra trendy, higher funded and extra assured than the organisation I took over in 2019.

As properly as being lively world wide now we have additionally invested in prosperity at house. I’m proud that I’ve secured GCAP, AUKUS, NCF, nationwide shipbuilding and the defence and safety industrial methods that may safe hundreds of British jobs for our younger folks a few years into the long run.

The Ministry of Defence is again on the trail to being as soon as once more world class with world class folks. The United Kingdom is revered world wide for our Armed Forces and that respect has solely grown extra for the reason that warfare in Ukraine.

I do know you agree with me that we should not return to the times the place defence was considered as a discretionary spend by authorities and financial savings had been achieved by hollowing out. I genuinely imagine that over the following decade the world will get extra insecure and extra unstable. We each share the assumption that now’s the time to speculate.

Ever since I joined the Army I’ve devoted myself to serving my nation.

That dedication nevertheless comes at a private toll to me and my household.

After a lot reflection, I’ve taken the choice to ask that I be allowed to step down. I gained my seat in 2005 and after so a few years it’s time for me to put money into the elements of life that I’ve uncared for, and to discover new alternatives.

Thank you for the assist and your friendship. You and the federal government could have my continued assist.