Ben Wallace (politician)

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The Right Honourable
Ben Wallace
MP PC
File:Official portrait of Mr Ben Wallace crop 2.jpg
Minister of State for Security
Assumed office
17 July 2016
Prime Minister Theresa May
Preceded by John Hayes
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Northern Ireland Office
In office
12 May 2015 – 17 July 2016
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Andrew Murrison
Succeeded by Kris Hopkins
Government Whip
In office
15 July 2014 – 12 May 2015
Prime Minister David Cameron
Member of Parliament
for Wyre and Preston North
Lancaster and Wyre (2005–2010)
Assumed office
5 May 2005
Preceded by Hilton Dawson
Majority 12,246 (23.3%)
Member of the Scottish Parliament
for North East Scotland
In office
6 May 1999 – 1 May 2003
Preceded by New Office
Succeeded by Nanette Milne
Personal details
Born (1970-05-15) 15 May 1970 (age 53)
Farnborough, Kent, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Liza, née Cooke[1]
Children 3
Alma mater Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Occupation Politician
Profession Army Officer
Awards Mentioned in Despatches
Website www.benwallace.org.uk
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1990–1998
Rank Captain
Unit Scots Guards
Battles/wars The Troubles

Robert Ben Lobban Wallace, MP PC (born 15 May 1970) is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wyre and Preston North since the 2010 general election, having been the MP for Lancaster and Wyre from 2005 to 2010.

Early life and career

Wallace attended Millfield School. He studied politics under Clive Thomas, who also taught Julian Smith MP and Margot James MP.[2] After school Wallace qualified as a ski instructor and taught in the village of Alpbach in Austria. During that period his parents moved to Pennsylvania in the United States where they lived for 7 years.

Military and business career

Aged 19, Wallace attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, before being commissioned as a platoon commander into the Scots Guards. During his eight-year army career he served in Germany, Windsor, Cyprus, Central America and Northern Ireland. In 1992 he was mentioned in despatches.[citation needed] His last post was as Company Commander of F Company Scots Guards.

From 2003 to 2005 he was overseas director of QinetiQ, the UK's part-privatised National Defence Laboratory.[2]

Political career

Scottish Parliament

After leaving the Army, he became in 1999 a Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament, as a list MSP for North East Scotland, before standing down in 2003. He was the Scottish Conservatives' shadow health spokesman during that time.

United Kingdom Parliament

Wallace won the Lancaster and Wyre Constituency from Labour in 2005. The election result saw a 481-vote (0.92%) Labour majority swing to a 4171 vote (8.00%) Conservative majority. The overall swing was 4.50% from Labour to Conservative. This constituency was number nine on the 2005 Conservative 'target list'.[citation needed]

From 2005 to 2010 Wallace was a member of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee.[3] From 2006 to 2010 Wallace was the Shadow Minister of State for Scotland. He was Chairman of the British–Iran Parliamentary Group from 2006 to 2014.

On 13 November 2008, Wallace was elected Campaigner of the Year in the Spectator/Threadneedle Parliamentarian awards, for his work promoting transparency of MPs expenses.[citation needed] In February 2008, in conjunction with the Sunday Times, Wallace published all his expenses and receipts.

Following his re-election to Parliament, Wallace was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then-Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, and later Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office, Ken Clarke MP.[citation needed]

On 4 September 2012, Wallace turned down a position as a Lord Commissioner of the Treasury during the cabinet reshuffle.[citation needed] to remain Clarke's PPS.[4] In July 2014, as Clarke returned to the back benches, Wallace was again offered a job in Government as a whip. This time he accepted. In May 2015 he was promoted to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office. After the EU referendum, the new Prime Minister, Theresa May, promoted him to Minister of State for Security in the Home Office.

Wallace was appointed to the Privy Council for his role in coordinating the government response to the 2017 Westminster attack.[5]

Personal life

In 2001, he married Liza and they have three children. Wallace currently resides near Lancaster. He enjoys rugby, skiing and motorsport. He is currently a member of the Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers.[citation needed]

References

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External links

News articles
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Wyre
2005–2010		 Constituency Abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament for Wyre and Preston North
2010–present		 Incumbent
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