Keir Starmer’s premiership has been pushed to the brink of collapse after the shock resignation of John Healey as defence secretary, in a row over military spending that has exposed a bitter conflict at the heart of government.
In a blistering resignation letter, Healey accused Starmer and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, of putting the country’s security at risk, saying the long-awaited defence investment plan (Dip) fell well short of what was required. “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,” he wrote. “I would not be able to accept a Dip settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need.”
“John Healey resigns as defence secretary, accusing Starmer and Reeves of risking UK security over inadequate defence spending.”
The resignation came after months of wrangling between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury, culminating in a “stand-up row” between Healey and Reeves, according to friends of the former defence secretary. On Monday, No 10 finally told Healey how much more money it was prepared to give: an extra £2bn, or 0.08% of GDP, by 2030. To Healey, it appeared a trivial amount, given Starmer had promised Nato allies that the UK would lift defence spending from 2.6% of GDP in 2027 to 3.5% by 2035 — nearly £30bn in real terms.
Dan Jarvis, the security minister, was named as Healey’s successor on Thursday evening. But the damage was already spreading: the armed forces minister, Al Carns, and Healey’s two parliamentary aides also resigned, with Carns declaring in his resignation letter: “We need a new way of governing and we need it now.”
Within minutes of Healey’s departure, anger at the Treasury was palpable. One government minister described Reeves’s department as a “disgrace”. Another Whitehall source put it more starkly, telling The i Paper that the Treasury was a “danger to national security”.
The upheaval leaves Starmer struggling to shore up his reputation as a safe pair of hands at a time of growing international threats. It comes days before he is due to meet G7 allies in France and weeks before a Nato summit in Ankara that will be attended by Donald Trump, leaving the prime minister facing the embarrassing prospect of explaining why his own defence secretary felt he was not doing enough to keep the country safe.
Many Labour MPs, including cabinet ministers, already feel that Starmer is on borrowed time with the potential return of Andy Burnham after the Makerfield byelection next week. “This just makes the end more certain,” one minister told the Guardian.
Healey’s decision appeared to have taken No 10 by surprise despite the protracted row. In his response, Starmer insisted the Dip would be funded properly, saying strong public finances were part of what keeps the country safe. But the crisis begs the question of whether the prime minister can survive a defence rebellion that has shredded his remaining political authority.