British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who played a key role in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion and had recently warned that he wished to leave his post, has officially resigned, Downing Street announced today.

Wallace, 53, had declared over the summer his intention to retire from political life after nine years in government, including four in Defence.

“I was elected MP in 2005 and after all these years it is time to invest in aspects of my life that I have neglected and explore new opportunities,” he wrote in his resignation letter released by the office of Prime Minister Rishi Shunak, who is expected to announce the name of his ministerial successor very soon.

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