Key facts
- Three senior defence figures, John Healey, Al Carns, and Rich Knighton, have accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of underfunding the military.
- Healey and Carns resigned from their government roles due to dissatisfaction with the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
- The Dip is expected to provide an additional £13.5bn to the Ministry of Defence over four years.
- Knighton warned that military operations would be scaled back if funding does not increase.
- Starmer stated that his government has already delivered the biggest defence spending uplift since the 1980s.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been accused of underfunding the British military by three senior defence figures, including former defence secretary John Healey and former defence minister Al Carns, who resigned in protest of the government's Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
Healey and Carns stated that the Dip, which is set to provide an additional £13.5bn to the Ministry of Defence over four years, falls short of what is required for the transformation and rearmament of the armed forces. Healey specifically pointed to a projected rise of only 0.08% in defence spending as a share of GDP from next year to 2030, with no clear path to reaching 3% or 3.5% by that year.
Rich Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, echoed these concerns, warning that Britain would have to reduce its military operations in the coming years if the Ministry of Defence does not receive more resources than currently offered. He emphasized the need to prepare for future conflicts rather than past ones.
These interventions highlight internal concerns within the Labour party regarding Starmer's approach to defence policy and his perceived reluctance to implement radical changes, potentially influenced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The timing of these criticisms also coincides with political maneuvering, as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham aims to win a byelection, potentially challenging Starmer's leadership.
Starmer, however, defended his record, asserting that his government has already overseen the largest increase in defence spending since the 1980s, raising it from 2.3% to 2.6% of GDP. He indicated that the Dip is focused on future capabilities and that the new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, has been given two weeks to review the plan and request any necessary changes before its formal announcement.