British Defence Secretary John Healey sensationally quit on Thursday, accusing beleaguered Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry of failing to commit enough money to protect the country.
His shock resignation deals a fresh blow to Starmer and comes a week before a by-election that could prompt a bid to replace him. Healey warned that Starmer’s long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) — which the premier has yet to publish — risked making Britain “less safe”.
“You have 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,” Healey wrote in a resignation letter to Starmer posted on his X account. “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.”
Healey said he was first given full sight of the DIP on Monday and it sees defence spending rise to only 2.68 percent of GDP in 2030. It “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”, he wrote. “Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.”
Starmer has vowed to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP next year, rising to three percent if Labour wins the next election and 3.5 percent by 2035. The DIP has been delayed several times and was expected next week, reports said.
Tan Dhesi said the government must take Healey’s warning “with the utmost seriousness”. “That a defence secretary of his integrity and commitment has felt compelled to resign in response to the inadequacy of the proposed defence settlement is a grave moment,” he added.
The resignation comes as Andy Burnham prepares to stand in next Thursday’s Makerfield by-election and has said he would participate in any Labour leadership race. Wes Streeting quit as health secretary last month and has also said he would run. Healey, 66, has been talked about as a potential contender, though there is no sign his resignation is linked to that.
Ed Arnold said Healey’s resignation “creates a sequence of political headaches in terms of a replacement, and trying to get the defence investment plan published.”
A government source insisted that Starmer had made Britain “safer”, adding that the defence spending proposals “will deliver the capability our armed forces need”.
AFP
