Britain's Defense Minister Ben Wallace arrives for a cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in central London on July 4, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

LONDON – British Defense Minister Ben Wallace will not stand as a member of parliament (MP) in the next UK national election, and will leave government when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak carries out his next cabinet reshuffle, he told The Sunday Times newspaper.

Wallace, a member of the ruling Conservative party, has been MP for Wyre and Preston North and its predecessor constituency in northwest England since 2005.

Wallace had been considered as a potential successor to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg but Stoltenberg's contract was extended this month by another year

He has been defense secretary for four years, helping lead Britain's response to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

ALSO READ: UK minister: Afghanistan's fate means West now seen as weak

"I'm not standing next time," he said in an interview with the newspaper, but ruled out going "prematurely" and forcing another by-election.

Sunak is facing three by-elections next week, and opinion polls suggest his Conservative party could lose all of them.

A general election must be held in Britain within the next 18 months. The Sunday Times said a cabinet reshuffle was expected in September.

The newspaper said Wallace told Sunak his plans on June 16 but had hoped to make the announcement over the summer before leaks forced his hand.

There had been speculation over Wallace's future in recent weeks. Boundary changes will see his parliamentary constituency scrapped at the next election and he had not publicly sought another seat.

READ MORE: Army to be cut as Britain turns toward cyber defence

He had been considered as a potential successor to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg but Stoltenberg's contract was extended this month by another year.

Wallace also warned Britain could be drawn into more conflicts.

“Towards the end of the decade, the world is going to be much more unsafe, more insecure. I think we will find ourselves in a conflict. Whether it is a cold or a warm conflict, I think we’ll be in a difficult position," he said.