Key facts
- Defence Secretary John Healey resigned due to disagreements with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over defence funding.
- Healey stated that the Defence Investment Plan settlement did not provide sufficient resources for the armed forces.
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is now asking other cabinet ministers to identify funds for increased defence spending.
- Dan Jarvis has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary and is tasked with presenting an alternative investment plan.
- Al Carns also resigned as armed forces minister, citing inadequate funding and the slow pace of Whitehall's response to global threats.
Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned from his post, citing significant disagreements with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over defence funding levels. Healey's departure is seen as a major blow to Starmer's administration, with insiders describing the situation as a "disaster" and noting that a senior figure publicly stating the prime minister's choices were making the country less safe is "serious damage."
Healey's resignation letter reportedly indicated that while the Treasury was "unwilling" to allocate sufficient funds, Downing Street was "unable" to secure the necessary money, suggesting a lack of authority for the Prime Minister. Healey had reportedly demanded a clear timeline for the UK to meet the target of spending 3% of national income on defence, a step towards the 3.5% commitment made to NATO allies by 2035. The Ministry of Defence had warned Downing Street about the consequences of a low settlement.
Sources suggest that as late as Wednesday night, Downing Street was deliberating over the exact amount of additional defence cash to announce, with one source stating, "The deal was so bad they didn't know how to present it." Healey had warned Starmer that he would have to resign if the situation did not change. Despite Healey's concerns, Downing Street ultimately informed him that the Prime Minister's decision was final and no changes would be made, prompting Healey's resignation.
Cabinet ministers, including Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, have now been asked to identify funds within their departments to meet increased defence spending requirements. Nandy stated that these discussions are ongoing and that departments are looking carefully at how to achieve the necessary funding. Dan Jarvis, the newly appointed Defence Secretary, has been given two weeks to present an alternative plan for increased investment ahead of the NATO summit.
Al Carns also resigned as armed forces minister, stating that spending 2.68% of GDP by 2030 was "not a serious answer" and that the figure was set by the Treasury, which views defence as a cost to be contained. He suggested that Whitehall could not move nimbly enough to counter evolving threats.