Yesterday, Boris Johnson dramatically resigned as UK Prime Minister and delivered a farewell address surrounded by his family and supporters outside Number 10. His position had come under scrutiny after dozens of ministers resigned, including his Chancellor Rishi Sunak, and Health Minister Sajid Javid. In his final speech as Conservative leader, Mr Johnson acknowledged the difficulties he had faced while in power: “As we have seen at Westminster, the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves.
“And my friends in politics, no one is remotely indispensable and our brilliant and Darwinian system will produce a new leader equally committed to helping this country through difficult times.”
Mr Johnson added: “I know there will be a lot of people who will be relieved and maybe quite a few who will be disappointed too. And I want you to know how sad I am to give up the best job in the world. breaks.”
His resignation sparked a wave of speculation about who could be his replacement, and one of the first favorites to succeed him is current Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.
Although he was an influential figure during his time in parliament, first rising to MP for Wyre and Preston North in 2005, little is known about Mr Wallace outside of Westminster.
Before embarking on a career in the armed forces, the Farnborough-born politician grew up in Somerset where, after completing his education, he was interviewed for a number of positions, including by the Regular Commissions Board.
He then embarked on a short career as a top ski instructor at the Austrian National Ski School in the village of Alpbach in Austria.
He then switched and became interested in a career in the military.
Mr Wallace entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a cadet in June 1991 and was soon commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Scots Guards.
JUST INSIDE: A misfit who gave his country freedom and hope – EXPRESS COMMENTS
Less than ten years later, Mr Wallace was elected as a Member of Parliament.
He made headlines in 2009 when he spoke out after being rejected by the then Education Minister, Sion Simon, when the pair were expected to meet to discuss funding for the university.
The Tory lashed out at Mr Simon after it was revealed he canceled their proposed meeting in favor of a session at the gym, according to reports.
During a session with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Mr Wallace lashed out at the then Minister for Skills, John Denham.
He said: “This afternoon I had an appointment with your colleague, the member of Birmingham Erdington [Mr Simon]at 2:30 p.m.
“The point was to talk about the failure to fund Blackpool’s sixth-year college capital program at Myerscough College in my constituency.
“That appointment has been canceled – I then find out that the minister spent time in the gym at the time.
“If the secretary has time to spend at the gym but doesn’t meet me to discuss a point about college funding, doesn’t that say a lot about the priorities in his department?”
While his Conservative Party colleagues laughed, Mr Denham replied, according to a Daily Mail report at the time: “My dear friend has met a huge number of MPs who were understandably concerned about the FE’s capital program and I am quite confident that if he can’t meet you today, he will in the not-too-distant future.”
Meanwhile, among those who supported Mr Wallace turned out to be Coral, who has installed Mr Sunak as the second favorite.
John Hill, of Coral, said: “Over 60 percent of all bets we’ve made on the conservative leader’s market have been for Ben Wallace.
“The defense secretary is the favorite and his chances are getting smaller and smaller.
“The other big mover in the bet is Tom Tugendhat. His odds took a big plunge when he confirmed he intended to stand.”