Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he has a “duty” to stay on as prime minister, one day after his defence secretary quit in a row over funding, as a former cabinet minister blamed “poor leadership, poor judgement and bad politics” for the crisis. Speaking to the BBC, Starmer said he had made “hard-edged” choices including cuts to overseas aid to prioritise defence, and rejected criticism that he was unable to commit the necessary spending. “Whoever is prime minister is going to face the same prevailing winds as I am facing, none of that is going to change,” he said in a veiled warning to potential leadership challengers. The resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns on Thursday were triggered by an ongoing internal row over the government’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which sets out how new military equipment and infrastructure will be paid for over the next decade. Healey’s resignation letter accused Starmer of being “unable” to commit to the spending needed to keep the country safe. The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, but Healey reportedly suggested the current DIP proposed only 2.68%. Starmer argued that defence was his “number one priority” and would remain so at future spending reviews.
Wes Streeting, the former health secretary who resigned in May and is planning to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership, launched a blistering attack on the PM in an interview with the New Statesman. “At the heart of these challenges is poor leadership, poor judgement and bad politics,” Streeting said. “And unless that changes, we will give this country to Nigel Farage and he will walk into Downing Street at the next general election. And I do not want that on my conscience.” Streeting described anonymous government briefings against Healey as “juvenile” and said they “debased his critics”. He added that the departures show “this is not a government that is open to ideas, this is not a government that is willing to draw on expertise.” Starmer acknowledged he needs to “turn things around” and said he would not “plunge” the country into the “chaos” of a leadership election, but added: “If it does happen, I will fight.” On Friday evening, Louise Sandher-Jones was made armed forces minister, Calvin Bailey became veterans minister, and Angela Eagle was appointed security minister.
“Defence secretary John Healey resigns over spending; Starmer defends record as Streeting attacks leadership.”