Ben Wallace is believed to be mulling leaving Government within the autumn after 4 years as Defence Secretary.

The MP for Wyre and Preston North, who was an in depth ally of Boris Johnson, is weighing up whether or not to exit politics completely, in accordance with The Times.

Mr Wallace nonetheless helps Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the Government with the departure not associated to the Conservative Party's present challenges, the paper reported.

He had proven an curiosity in standing for the position of NATO secretary-general earlier than present chief, Jens Stoltenberg, was given one other yr in cost.

A supply instructed Sky News Mr Wallace would possible decide in August on whether or not he needed to remain or go.

Speculation over Mr Wallace's future in politics has rising in current weeks with Ministry of Defence officers reportedly questioning who his alternative may very well be.

The Times instructed Salisbury MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen, is the frontrunner.

Former International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, safety minister Tom Tugendhat and Jeremy Quinn, a former defence minister, have additionally been tipped as doable replacements.

Mr Wallace is the longest, continuously-serving minister in authorities and massively well-liked among the many Tory grassroots.

He can be recognized for plain talking, utilizing generally vibrant language.

At the NATO summit in Vilnius this week he instructed journalists he had instructed Ukraine the UK was not an Amazon-style delivery service for weapons and other people "want to see gratitude".

Mr Wallace uttered the comment after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky branded it "absurd" for NATO to insist there have been nonetheless situations for his nation to satisfy earlier than it could acquire membership of the army alliance as soon as the conflict with Russia is over.

Mr Zelensky later stated: "I believe that we were always grateful to United Kingdom. I don't know what he meant and how else we should be grateful."

Last yr, Mr Wallace dominated himself out of the working for the Conservative management, regardless of being an early frontrunner within the race to switch Mr Johnson.

He served as safety minister below Theresa May earlier than being promoted to Defence Secretary by Mr Johnson and persevering with the position below Liz Truss and Mr Sunak.

Mr Wallace has spent a lot of his interval in workplace combating for additional funding for the Armed Forces amid rising threats and after years of cuts.

He has additionally been a number one voice pushing Britain and its allies to do extra to help Ukraine.

An MP since 2005, on the 2019 General Election, Mr Wallace retained his seat with a 16,781 majority, nearly 60 per cent of the vote.

Mr Wallace has been approached for remark.