John Healey and Al Carns resigned yesterday over Keir Starmer’s plan for defence funding
Keir Starmer has been under pressure to increase defence spending (Image: Getty)
The world is a dangerous place, and any government’s most important duty is to keep its country safe. Amid concerns that the UK is not prepared for a future major conflict, John Healey resigned as Defence Secretary yesterday. In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Healey said the Prime Minister had been “unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats”.
He added that he had received a financial settlement for the defence investment plan (DIP) on Monday afternoon which “falls well short of what is required”, with extra support coming after 2030 when the “imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years”. Mr Healey said: “After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation as your defence secretary.”
John Healey resigned over defence spending yesterday (Image: Getty)
Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said Sir Keir cannot continue in office, as the Armed Forces have “lost all faith” in him.
She called him “a prime minister who cannot command the respect of our military”, The Telegraph reported.
“Britain’s national security must come before Keir Starmer’s ego,” Ms Badenoch added. “The Prime Minister’s time is up.”
She has been calling for Labour to cut welfare spending in favour of diverting cash to the military.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), total UK welfare spending was £314.9bn in 2024/25, representing 10.7% of UK GDP, a House of Lords Library report stated.
It is forecast to rise to £333.7bn in 2025/26 (10.9% of GDP) and to £408.6bn in 2030/31 (11.2% of GDP).
Welfare spending amounted to 24.4% of government spending in 2024/25, and this is anticipated to increase to 25.4% in 2030/31.
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Ms Badenoch said: “Conservatives have been urging Labour for nearly a year to cut welfare and invest properly in Britain’s defence.
“Now the Defence Minister has resigned, along with his deputy because they agree with us. Keir Starmer should see this as a wake-up call.
“In an increasingly unstable world, Britain needs a stronger military.
“Only the Conservatives have a plan to restore the two child benefit cap and use the money to fund defence.”
