Two defence ministers resigned in a single day, accusing the prime minister of failing to commit enough money to keep the country safe. At the same time, a former cabinet minister is publicly calling for new leadership, and the government's long-promised defence investment plan remains stuck in limbo. This is what you need to know about the row over defence spending that is shaking Keir Starmer's government.
At the heart of the crisis is the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) — a ten-year blueprint for how new military equipment and infrastructure will be paid for. The plan was due last autumn but has been repeatedly delayed. The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, but the current version of the DIP proposes raising it only to 2.68% — not enough, according to the departing ministers.
“Explaining the row over defence spending that led to ministerial resignations and questions about Starmer's leadership.”
On Thursday 11 June 2026, Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns resigned. In his resignation letter, Healey accused the prime minister of being “unable” to commit the spending needed to keep the country safe. Carns called on Starmer to cut welfare spending to find more money. The following day, Starmer told the BBC he had a “duty” to stay on, insisting he had made “hard-edged decisions” and that defence was his “number one priority”. He pointed to cuts to overseas aid as evidence he could make tough choices to fund defence. Asked whether he would reduce welfare spending, Starmer said the government was making changes to help people into work, which would “free up resources”.
Treasury sources told The Telegraph that Starmer had asked all departments to cut 1% from their capital investment budgets to raise £6bn for defence, but the Department for Work and Pensions was not asked to consider changes to benefit levels. The Conservatives accused the prime minister of lacking “the backbone to cut welfare and fund defence”.
This row comes against a backdrop of broader discontent within the Labour Party. Former health secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned 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 interview with the New Statesman, Streeting said the resignations “underscore the case for change and change quickly” and warned that unless things change, Nigel Farage could become prime minister. Streeting also attacked “juvenile” government briefings against Healey. Starmer acknowledged he needs to “turn things around” but warned that any leadership challenger would face the same “prevailing winds”.
For UK readers, this matters because defence spending directly affects national security, the armed forces, and the public purse. The row shows the difficulty of balancing competing priorities — welfare, health, education — against military needs. It also raises questions about the stability of Starmer's government and whether a leadership contest is imminent. The outcome will shape the UK’s defence posture at a time of growing global uncertainty, and could affect public spending decisions on everything from benefits to schools.
Q: Why did the defence secretary resign? John Healey resigned because he believed the government’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was inadequate. He accused the prime minister of failing to commit the spending needed to keep the country safe.
Q: Will Keir Starmer be forced out as Labour leader? Starmer says he has a “duty” to stay on and will fight any challenge. However, Wes Streeting has publicly criticised him and is planning to stand for the leadership after the Makerfield by-election, so a contest is possible.
Q: What is the Defence Investment Plan (DIP)? It is a ten-year plan setting out how new military equipment and infrastructure will be paid for. It was due last autumn but has been repeatedly delayed due to disagreements over funding. The government wants defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
What happens next is uncertain. Dan Jarvis has been appointed the new defence secretary and will spend the next few days discussing the DIP with No 10 and the Treasury. Government sources said it is unlikely the plan will be published next week because the prime minister is at the G7 summit and a by-election is taking place. Meanwhile, the leadership challenge may become clearer after the by-election result, and Streeting has said the resignations show the need for change “quickly”.