Outgoing Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said a Cabinet reshuffle could take place as early as this week.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is thought to be planning to shuffle his top ministerial team as he struggles to meet his goals of halving inflation this year and getting the economy growing ahead of a national election expected next year.
Mr Wallace said at the weekend that he would leave government when the next reshuffle happens, and step down as an MP at the next election.
“There’s a rumour there’s a reshuffle tomorrow or the day after,” Mr Wallace said at the Future of Britain conference in London on Tuesday, adding that he had heard different things on the timing from people in government.
“But it’s going to happen, right? I mean, it’s going to happen either this week or the first week of September. And that’s just the way it is.”
Mr Wallace’s timeframe reflected the summer holidays when Parliament pauses for recess on Thursday and returns in September.
He said his departure would not impact Britain’s staunch support for Ukraine, adding that he had appointed military chiefs and officials in the defence ministry who would provide continuity.
“Ultimately, the momentum is with Ukraine. It doesn’t need me,” he said.
Mr Wallace said that Mr Sunak was “a bit surprised” but understood the reasons for his departure. He has served as Defence Secretary since 2019 and security minister before then.
“I’ve done my time. It’s time to move on,” he said.
“I think it’s only fair to the sitting prime minister that he goes into the next election with a Defence Secretary that’s not going to say six weeks before ‘I’m off’.”
