Starmer publishes long-delayed defence plan after resignations over funding

After a row that cost two ministers their jobs, Sir Keir Starmer is pressing ahead with a long-delayed defence investment plan that commits £5bn to drones – one of his final acts before leaving Downing Street. The plan, published on Tuesday, comes nine months later than expected and follows the resignations of former defence secretary John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns, who said the original funding package fell short of what was needed. Healey quit after arguing the plan did not provide enough money to keep Britain safe, while Carns said it was not “transformative enough” in the face of rapidly-evolving warfare. The new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, bypassed Starmer to negotiate directly with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, securing an extra £1.5bn on top of the £13.5bn already promised to Healey. That reduced an £18bn funding gap to £15bn, according to two sources. The Ministry of Defence said the plan includes the “largest ever drone investment” – £5bn over four years to create an integrated force using uncrewed systems. The Royal Navy will become a “hybrid navy” with self-controlled vessels and AI alongside six new warships. The Army gets £50m for drones and uncrewed vehicles, while the Royal Air Force will develop autonomous fighter jets and bring an “uncrewed electronic warfare drone system” into service in 2026. Royal Marine commandos will be supplied with additional uncrewed speedboats made by Kraken Technology in Fareham, Hampshire, as part of peacekeeping missions. The plan also funds “Europe’s biggest drone testing centre” in Swindon, which opened in March. The 80-page document, covering projects from frigates to nuclear submarines, will be presented to MPs on Tuesday. Healey is expected to speak in the Commons. Speaking ahead of the launch, Starmer said: “Today’s defence investment plan will help drive growth across the UK, giving our industrial base the confidence, certainty and support it needs to develop and scale the technologies that will keep our country safe and secure long into the future.” Political reactions were swift. The Conservatives called the plan “too little, too late”, while the Liberal Democrats said it “dangerously short-changed our armed forces”. The extra funding was found by asking other government departments to cut at least 1% from capital budgets in one of the most acrimonious Whitehall rows in recent memory. Jarvis spent the last two weeks “refocusing” the plan to take on lessons from Ukraine and Iran, the MoD said. Jarvis said: “In Ukraine and the Middle East, uncrewed systems … [have] shown the character of warfare is rapidly changing.” The plan arrives before the Nato leaders summit in Turkey on 7 July. Nato’s head told the Guardian he believed the UK would honour its commitments. But the plan may yet be ripped up by Andy Burnham, who looks set to become prime minister next month.