Two ministers quit in 24 hours as defence spending row deepens for Starmer

The prime minister’s authority has been dealt another blow after two senior defence ministers resigned in the space of 24 hours, accusing Sir Keir Starmer of failing to fund the armed forces. John Healey quit as defence secretary on Wednesday, saying the prime minister was “unable” to spend enough to keep the country safe. Hours later, Al Carns stepped down as armed forces minister, telling the BBC he did not believe enough money had been provided and that the government’s long-delayed defence investment plan (DIP) “lacked innovation”. The resignations have further weakened Starmer, who has been facing questions about his leadership after poor election results at the beginning of May and the expected by-election challenge in Makerfield from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Speaking to the BBC in his first interview since leaving government, Carns said Britain’s military could find itself in a difficult position “in the next two to three years should we be tested”. He predicted a “geographically constrained contest” involving the UK, its allies or partners. The DIP, initially expected in autumn last year and now due before next month’s Nato summit, was “looking at how to fight the last war not the next one”, he argued. It lacked “innovation, lessons learnt from Ukraine, a thinking of the bureaucracy and a refinement of procurement processes”. Carns, who also told Channel 4 News that a shadow fleet operation had “saved thousands of lives in Ukraine”, called for “bold and courageous decisions to put the funding in the right place”. He said the government needed to have “a really honest conversation with the population about the threats we face” and pointed to welfare spending as an area where the balance could be adjusted. “There is an argument around welfare,” he said. “We need to help people who need to most help in the nation but also get the balance right across defence.” Business Secretary Peter Kyle expressed sadness at Healey’s departure but said he had “faith” in the prime minister and chancellor to fund and deliver a defence plan. Asked whether Starmer would still be leader by the next election, Kyle did not directly answer, saying only: “This is a prime minister with a purpose. I am proud to be delivering that purpose with him.” Security minister Dan Jarvis, a former British Army officer, has been appointed to replace Healey and will take responsibility for delivering the DIP. Starmer now faces a choice: rewrite the investment plan in light of the criticisms or stick by his pledge to publish it ahead of the Nato summit, a decision that will test whether his leadership can survive the double resignation.