Two ministers have resigned from the Ministry of Defence in a single day, plunging Keir Starmer’s government into a crisis over military funding. Defence secretary John Healey quit on Thursday after accusing the prime minister and chancellor of failing to commit the resources needed “to defend the country at this time of rising threats”. Armed forces minister Al Carns followed hours later, declaring the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) “is not built for the threat we face” and calling for “a new way of governing”. At least one parliamentary private secretary, Pam Nash, also resigned, according to a source.
Healey, a veteran of the New Labour governments, said the DIP settlement finalised on Monday “falls way short of what is required” and that he was “being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel”. In his resignation letter, he demanded a target of 3% of GDP on defence by 2030. Carns, a former Royal Marine, went further, attacking the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill and suggesting a change of leadership was needed.
“John Healey and Al Carns resigned as defence ministers over inadequate military spending, triggering a government crisis.”
Dan Jarvis, a former soldier, was appointed defence secretary late on Thursday. An ally told the Guardian that “they can’t sack him or let him resign”, giving him a strong hand in future negotiations. Multiple government sources said Jarvis would look to “reprioritise” aspects of the DIP, possibly by cutting projects Healey had been unwilling to axe, and may return to the Treasury demanding more cash. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that conversations about defence funding were “not finished” and that her own department was in talks about freeing up money. But other cabinet ministers have drawn “red lines” on capital projects they will not cut.
Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge offered to work with the government to find money, proposing cuts to the welfare budget, restoring the two-child benefit cap, and reducing net zero spending. Starmer, facing a possible leadership challenge from Andy Burnham, insisted defence was his top priority and said he would fight any challenge. Speaking after the Royal Marines seized a Russia-linked shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel – an operation months in the planning – the prime minister declared: “Another bad day to be Vladimir Putin.”
The DIP, which sets out military equipment and infrastructure funding over the next decade, was due last autumn but has been repeatedly delayed. No 10 says it will be published before next month’s Nato summit, but not in the coming week. The crisis shows no sign of abating, with Healey’s allies telling the BBC that “more money is coming, but only as a result of Healey resigning… this is another unbelievable U-turn”.