Wallace Resigns as Minister for Defence
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After muttering OFF's the first thing that came to to mind was the impending Typhoon jolly. It will be a matter of weeks, he is so desperate for that photo op. Do your duty Typhoon pilot - make him very sick and get a photo.
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The King of Smart Motorways is now in charge of the nations safety. You couldn't make it up.
Last edited by Timmy Tomkins; 31st Aug 2023 at 13:08.
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I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
To quote the DWO* 'Well that's going to go well ... another idiot with the reins of power."
*Domestic Warfare Officer
To quote the DWO* 'Well that's going to go well ... another idiot with the reins of power."
Dear Prime Minister,
Last month marked my fourth year as Secretary of State for Defence. It also marks the ninth year as a Minister. I have had the privilege of serving you and your predecessors in the task of protecting this great country and keeping its citizens safe. As you know that responsibility carries with it a 24/7 duty to be available at almost no notice. In my time as both Security Minister and at Defence, I have been able to contribute to the Government’s response to a range of threats and incidents.
From Wannacry, the 2017 terrorist attacks, the Salisbury Poisonings, Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine, it has been an honour to serve alongside the men and women of our Armed forces and intelligence services who sacrifice so much for our security.
The last four years has seen our Armed Forces and their leadership shine through. Whether it was the evacuation of Kabul, our Covid response, Ukraine or Sudan, the professionalism of our people has been first class.
The investment you made in Defence as Chancellor and the continued support you have shown as Prime Minister has been key to enabling the Ministry of Defence to deliver for Britain. I am personally very grateful for your leadership.
As I finish my tenure, I can reflect that the Ministry of Defence that I leave is now more modern, better funded and more confident than the organisation I took over in 2019. As well as being active around the world we have also invested in prosperity at home. I am proud that I have secured GCAP, AUKUS, NCF, National shipbuilding and the Defence and Security industrial strategies that will secure thousands of British jobs for our young people many years into the future.
The Ministry of Defence is back on the path to being once again world class with world class people. The United Kingdom is respected around the world for our Armed Forces and that respect has only grown more since the war in Ukraine. I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where Defence was viewed as a discretionary spend by Government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.
I genuinely believe that over the next decade the world will get more insecure and more unstable. We both share the belief that now is the time to invest. Ever since I joined the Army I have dedicated myself to serving my country. That dedication however comes at a personal toll to me and my family.
After much reflection, I have taken the decision to ask that I be allowed to step down. I won my seat in 2005 and after so many years it is time for me to invest in the parts of life that I have neglected, and to explore new opportunities.
Thank you for the support and your friendship. You and the Government will have my continued support.
Yours sincerely,
THE RT HON BEN WALLACE MP
Last month marked my fourth year as Secretary of State for Defence. It also marks the ninth year as a Minister. I have had the privilege of serving you and your predecessors in the task of protecting this great country and keeping its citizens safe. As you know that responsibility carries with it a 24/7 duty to be available at almost no notice. In my time as both Security Minister and at Defence, I have been able to contribute to the Government’s response to a range of threats and incidents.
From Wannacry, the 2017 terrorist attacks, the Salisbury Poisonings, Afghanistan, Sudan and Ukraine, it has been an honour to serve alongside the men and women of our Armed forces and intelligence services who sacrifice so much for our security.
The last four years has seen our Armed Forces and their leadership shine through. Whether it was the evacuation of Kabul, our Covid response, Ukraine or Sudan, the professionalism of our people has been first class.
The investment you made in Defence as Chancellor and the continued support you have shown as Prime Minister has been key to enabling the Ministry of Defence to deliver for Britain. I am personally very grateful for your leadership.
As I finish my tenure, I can reflect that the Ministry of Defence that I leave is now more modern, better funded and more confident than the organisation I took over in 2019. As well as being active around the world we have also invested in prosperity at home. I am proud that I have secured GCAP, AUKUS, NCF, National shipbuilding and the Defence and Security industrial strategies that will secure thousands of British jobs for our young people many years into the future.
The Ministry of Defence is back on the path to being once again world class with world class people. The United Kingdom is respected around the world for our Armed Forces and that respect has only grown more since the war in Ukraine. I know you agree with me that we must not return to the days where Defence was viewed as a discretionary spend by Government and savings were achieved by hollowing out.
I genuinely believe that over the next decade the world will get more insecure and more unstable. We both share the belief that now is the time to invest. Ever since I joined the Army I have dedicated myself to serving my country. That dedication however comes at a personal toll to me and my family.
After much reflection, I have taken the decision to ask that I be allowed to step down. I won my seat in 2005 and after so many years it is time for me to invest in the parts of life that I have neglected, and to explore new opportunities.
Thank you for the support and your friendship. You and the Government will have my continued support.
Yours sincerely,
THE RT HON BEN WALLACE MP
The one thing we can be certain about is that Shapps will have absolutely no interest in the long term or even medium term at the MoD - he'll aim to hang in until the election and then position himself to run against Sunak to lead the Opposition.
So anything tough or difficult will be kicked down the road, there'll be a lot of photo opportunities and speeches aimed at the Daily Mail readership and wild claims of "success".
So anything tough or difficult will be kicked down the road, there'll be a lot of photo opportunities and speeches aimed at the Daily Mail readership and wild claims of "success".
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Says it all
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-b1103937.html
Mr Wallace’s departure marks an end to a period of relative stability at the top of the MoD, having held the post of defence secretary for four years. Mr Shapps, by contrast, is taking on his fifth role in the Cabinet in the last year alone.
Saw this on another forum. had to share.
From Wallace to Gromit.
From Wallace to Gromit.
Last edited by Ninthace; 31st Aug 2023 at 12:09.
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The journo James O'Brien summed it up well on Twitter:
"A man who made his fortune selling get rich quick schemes on the internet under a variety of false identities- and lied about it *after* becoming an MP - is now in charge of the nation's defence."
"A man who made his fortune selling get rich quick schemes on the internet under a variety of false identities- and lied about it *after* becoming an MP - is now in charge of the nation's defence."
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Amusing yes, but apparently someone who's heard the names but not seen the films. Very unfair on Gromit to compare him to Shapps: Gromit is the practical one with a good idea of what's going on who saves the day and is frustrated with his master's schemes. Wallace the incompetent and excessively self-confident twerp who is constantly changing his job (remind you of anyone?).
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From the Spectator today, who have a good grip on these things. It does not bode well for defence spending:
During the Tory leadership race, Sunak refused to pledge as much as Truss on defence, with the former prime minister promising to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030. When Sunak succeeded Truss, he watered this down – but has vowed to boost funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP in the long term. The worry among Sunak allies was that the wrong candidate could start to lobby for spending commitments the Treasury would struggle to match. Shapps is likely to play ball. More immediately, Shapps will have to deal with the UK’s depleted military supplies – with much of it having been sent to Ukraine.
During the Tory leadership race, Sunak refused to pledge as much as Truss on defence, with the former prime minister promising to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030. When Sunak succeeded Truss, he watered this down – but has vowed to boost funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP in the long term. The worry among Sunak allies was that the wrong candidate could start to lobby for spending commitments the Treasury would struggle to match. Shapps is likely to play ball. More immediately, Shapps will have to deal with the UK’s depleted military supplies – with much of it having been sent to Ukraine.
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From the Spectator today, who have a good grip on these things. It does not bode well for defence spending:
During the Tory leadership race, Sunak refused to pledge as much as Truss on defence, with the former prime minister promising to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030. When Sunak succeeded Truss, he watered this down – but has vowed to boost funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP in the long term. The worry among Sunak allies was that the wrong candidate could start to lobby for spending commitments the Treasury would struggle to match. Shapps is likely to play ball. More immediately, Shapps will have to deal with the UK’s depleted military supplies – with much of it having been sent to Ukraine.
During the Tory leadership race, Sunak refused to pledge as much as Truss on defence, with the former prime minister promising to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030. When Sunak succeeded Truss, he watered this down – but has vowed to boost funding to 2.5 per cent of GDP in the long term. The worry among Sunak allies was that the wrong candidate could start to lobby for spending commitments the Treasury would struggle to match. Shapps is likely to play ball. More immediately, Shapps will have to deal with the UK’s depleted military supplies – with much of it having been sent to Ukraine.
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Amusing yes, but apparently someone who's heard the names but not seen the films. Very unfair on Gromit to compare him to Shapps: Gromit is the practical one with a good idea of what's going on who saves the day and is frustrated with his master's schemes. Wallace the incompetent and excessively self-confident twerp who is constantly changing his job (remind you of anyone?).
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I am extremely underwhelmed.
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Well if he is after freebie flying as Defence Minister he better get a move on, they have chopped the replacement for the 109's and they go literally in weeks. I do wonder if he was chosen as he will "sit on De fence" when it comes to the budget and manning.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...ref=biztoc.com
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...ref=biztoc.com
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Well done, Michael Green, Corinne Stockheath, Sebastian Fox, Grant Shapps.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...ertising-probe
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...n-crace-sketch
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pol...ing-an-MP.html
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...-boris-johnson
https://www.channel4.com/news/grant-shapps-wikipedia-edits-contribsx-michael-green
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/sep/11/grant-shapps-wikipedia-edited-gaffe
Just check out the name badge - talk about caught red handed. But he still survives and lands another Cabinet role. It is no wonder that Cameron sacked him as Tory Party Chairman when stories like this started coming out. Even more so when many say it was this muppet’s dabbling that saw us drop out of EASA when we didn’t need too. That also surprised the CAA staff that were not planning to leave as you don’t need to be in the EU to belong to it!
Gawd help us all…
Last edited by Corporal Clott; 31st Aug 2023 at 18:26.
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