Defence Secretary: We have a duty to keep people safe, no matter the PM

The Defence Secretary and a defence minister have suggested they will stay in post – regardless of who is prime minister.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey say the Government has a duty to keep the country safe, no matter who is in place at the top.

Boris Johnson is expected to resign as PM, after multiple cabinet resignations in a matter of days.

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A statement to the nation is expected to take place today (7 July), in which Mr Johnson will announce plans to step down.

Mr Johnson will reportedly remain in power until a successor is in place, expected to be by the autumn.

Mr Wallace and Mr Heappey took to Twitter to emphasise the need to protect the British people, despite the forthcoming changes to the Government, both indicating they are staying in post along with a number of others.

"A number of us have an obligation to keep this country safe, no matter who is PM," Mr Wallace tweeted.

"The Party has a mechanism to change leaders and that is the mechanism which I advise colleagues to use. In the meantime, the public would not forgive us if we left these Offices of State empty."

Mr Heappey's tweet said: "We're living in an uncertain world and the first responsibility of govt is to keep the British people safe.

"That's why, like others in national security roles, I'll continue to serve, no matter who is PM."