Ben Wallace (politician)
Sir Robert Ben Lobban Wallace (born 15 May 1970) is a British politician. He has been the Secretary of State for Defence from 24 July 2019 to 31 August 2023. He was the UK’s longest-serving Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime from 2016 to 2019. Wallace is a member of the Conservative Party. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wyre and Preston North from 2010 to 2024.
Sir Ben Wallace | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | |
| In office 24 July 2019 – 31 August 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Penny Mordaunt |
| Succeeded by | Grant Shapps |
| Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime | |
| In office 17 July 2016 – 24 July 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | John Hayes |
| Succeeded by | Brandon Lewis |
| Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
| In office 12 May 2015 – 17 July 2016 | |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Andrew Murrison |
| Succeeded by | Kris Hopkins |
| Member of Parliament for Wyre and Preston North Lancaster and Wyre (2005–2010) | |
| In office 5 May 2005 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Hilton Dawson |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of the Scottish Parliament for North East Scotland | |
| In office 6 May 1999 – 31 March 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Succeeded by | Nanette Milne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Ben Lobban Wallace 15 May 1970 Farnborough, Kent, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Liza Cooke[1] |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Army officer |
| Website | www.benwallace.org.uk |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1990–1998 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Scots Guards |
| Battles/wars | The Troubles |
| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches |
Wallace was first elected as the MP for Lancaster and Wyre in the 2005 United Kingdom general election. He was a Captain in the British Army.[2]
On 15 July 2023, Wallace announced his plan to resign as Secretary of State for Defence at the next Cabinet reshuffle and confirmed that he would not be seeking re-election as an MP at the next general election.[3] On 31 August 2023, Wallace formally resigned as Secretary of State for Defence.[4]
Ben Wallace (politician) Media
Wallace (left) meeting with the United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper at Horse Guards in September 2019
Wallace (right) and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon, in July 2021
Wallace with senior British Army officers at the Household Division Military Musical Spectacular in 2022
Wallace with Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu in Moscow in February 2022. Shoigu denied that Russia was planning an invasion of Ukraine.
Order of the Bath (ribbon)
General_Service_Medal_1962_BAR_MID
QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon
UK Queen EII Platinum Jubilee Medal ribbon
Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence ribbon bar. Estonia.
Ribbon bar of Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise
.jpg)
_04.png)
References
- ↑ "House of Commons – The Register of Members' Financial Interests – Part 2: Part 2". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ↑ "New defence secretary Ben Wallace has defended Stracathro Hospital and fox hunting". The Courier. The Courier. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
- ↑ Media, P. A. (2023-07-16). "Ben Wallace to quit as defence secretary and stand down as MP at next reshuffle" (in en-GB). The Observer. . https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jul/15/ben-wallace-says-he-will-step-down-as-defence-secretary-and-quit-as-mp. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ↑ "Ben Wallace resigns as defence secretary - read his letter in full". Sky News. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.