Ben Wallace has been announced as the new Secretary of State for Defence, taking over the position from Penny Mordaunt.
Former Army officer, Mr Wallace was commissioned into the Scots Guards at 20 years of age and served in Northern Ireland, Germany, Cyprus and Central America.
He began his political career as a Member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Following a move to Lancashire, he was elected to the UK House of Parliament in 2005. In 2010, Mr Wallace was elected as MP for the newly-created constituency of Wyre and Preston North. He has held a number of posts both in opposition and government, including Shadow Minister for Scotland and Parliamentary Private Secretary to The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke CH QC MP, at the Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office.
In July 2014, Mr Wallace was appointed as a government whip. He previously served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office from May 2015 until July 2016.
He leaves his post as Minister of State for Security at the Home Office, which he held since July 2016.
On his appointment Mr Wallace, said: “As a former Officer with the Scots Guards, it is an honour to take up this role at the Ministry of Defence.
“I look forward to getting started and meeting colleagues from across the department and our military.”
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Post written by: Matt Brown
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