Anne-Marie Trevelyan bids to replace Ben Wallace as secretary of defense

Anne-Marie Trevelyan says it would be a «privilege» to serve as Secretary of Defense. Photo: Dan Kitwood/AFP via Getty Images Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced her candidacy for secretary of defense two days after Ben Wallace announced he would step down during the next cabinet reshuffle.

The Foreign Minister is the first to publicly express interest in the role, saying it will be a «privilege to serve».

The Conservative MP for Berwick-upon-Tweed has served in the Cabinet under two former Prime Ministers, first as Secretary of State for International Development and then Secretary of Commerce under Boris Johnson, and then as Secretary of Transport under Liz Truss.

She then left the cabinet under Rishi Sunak and now serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth Affairs and Indo-Pacific Development.

Ms. Trevelyan previously served in the Department of Defense, serving as Secretary of the Armed Forces and Secretary of Defense Acquisition in Mr. Johnson's government.

She is an advocate for mental health care for veterans and has been involved in the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which gives MPs an insight into the workings of the armed forces.

In response to Nicholas Drummond, a military analyst and former Army officer, who apparently tacitly recommended her for the role, Ms Trevelyan thanked him for his «support» and said that «she would be honored to serve.»

Thanks for your support @nicholadrummond — it will be an honor to serve. I have every confidence that @RishiSunak will choose the right person to ensure that @DefenceHQ can continue to fulfill our vital commitment to @NATO and #IndoPacific during this challenging time.

— Anne-Marie Trevelyan, MP (@annietrev ) July 17, 2023

Some Conservative MPs have rallied around Tom Tugendhat, Secretary of State for Security, as Wallace's successor.

Penny Mordaunt, leader of the House of Commons, is also up for the role. , who briefly held the post in 2019.

Also among the contenders for the position are Sir Brandon Lewis, former Attorney General, James Hippie, Secretary of the Armed Forces, and John Glen, Chief Secretary of the Treasury.< /p>

Mr Wallace, who has been Secretary of Defense since July 2019, told The Sunday Times that he will resign from the government at the next cabinet reshuffle and will not run in the next election.