Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he has a "duty" to stay on as prime minister, a day after two defence ministers quit in a row over military funding — a crisis that has triggered open talk of a leadership challenge from within his own party.
In an interview with the BBC, Starmer argued he had made "hard-edged" decisions, including ordering every department to cut spending to pay for defence. But on Friday it emerged that welfare payments were never on the table. Treasury sources told The Telegraph that the Department for Work and Pensions was asked only to reduce capital spending — job centre buildings and IT systems — leaving benefits such as Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit untouched.
“Starmer defends leadership after two defence ministers quit over funding, as Wes Streeting attacks his 'poor leadership'.”
John Healey resigned as defence secretary on Thursday, accusing the PM of putting the country’s safety at risk by failing to fund the government’s defence investment plan adequately. Armed forces minister Al Carns also quit, and has not ruled out standing in a future Labour leadership contest.
"We have got to find more money," Carns said. "There is an argument about welfare. I’m a firm believer in a hand up, not a handout."
Wes Streeting, who resigned as health secretary in May and is planning to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership, blamed "poor leadership, poor judgement and bad politics" from No 10. In an exclusive interview with the New Statesman, Streeting said the row "underscores the case for change and change quickly because we can’t go through any more of this inertia." He warned: "Unless that changes, we will give this country to Nigel Farage and he will walk into Downing Street at the next general election."
Streeting described government briefings against Healey as "juvenile", saying they "debased his critics". The former health secretary argued Healey is "one of the most respected figures across the Labour Party".
Starmer, asked if he wanted to lead Labour into the next election, said he did but acknowledged: "I need to turn things around." He said he did not want to "plunge" the country into the "chaos" of a leadership election but added: "If it does happen, I will fight." He also rejected Healey’s analysis, insisting defence spending was his "number one priority".
Dan Jarvis has been appointed as the new defence secretary, taking over from Healey. Louise Sandher-Jones becomes armed forces minister, Calvin Bailey veterans minister, and Angela Eagle security minister. Jarvis will spend the next few days discussing the defence investment plan with No 10 and the Treasury, but government sources said it was unlikely to be published next week because Starmer is at the G7 summit and the Makerfield by-election is on Thursday.