Rishi Sunak throws weight behind ‘respected’ Ben Wallace to be next Nato chief

RISHI Sunak today backed “widely respected” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to be the next Nato chief.

The PM gave his bid for the top job a warm welcome – and said he was doing a “great job” on Ukraine.

It came after we reported that Mr Sunak would row in behind Mr Wallace if he decided to go for the top gig.

Yesterday the Defence Secretary finally admitted he would like the role, after refusing to slap down months of speculation.

The current NATO General Secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, has said he won’t run for another term when his term ends in September.

After 10 years in the role he won’t seek a further extension.

Asked by ITV in Hiroshima if he’d support Mr Wallace’s bid for the role, which becomes vacant in September, Sunak said he was focused “right now” on his current job as Defence Secretary.

Mr Sunak said: “I know he’s widely respected by his peers for the role that he has played.

“He’s focused right now on supporting Ukraine. He’s doing a great job of that.”

It came after Mr Wallace told German news agency dpa on Thursday, of the role: “I’ve always said it would be a good job.

“That’s a job I’d like. But I’m also loving the job I do now.”

Mr Wallace regularly tops the Tory Cabinet league tables as the most popular member of Mr Sunak’s top team.

If successful it would be a huge boost for Britain, with no homegrown having led the alliance for 25 years.

Nato leaders usually decide on who will get the job behind the scenes.

But after leading the charge for Ukraine in the war against Russia, the Defence Secretary will be in with a good chance.

However, he would have to quit as Defence Secretary and as an MP, triggering a reshuffle among the top team and a by-election in his Lancashire constituency.