Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he has a “duty” to remain as prime minister, one day after his defence secretary quit in a row over military spending, as the government scrambles to find more cash by slashing other public services.
John Healey dramatically resigned as Defence Secretary on Thursday, accusing the PM of being “unable” to commit the spending needed to keep the country safe. Armed Forces minister Al Carns followed hours later, along with two ministerial aides.
“Starmer says he has a duty to stay on after defence secretary resigns over spending, as departments cut budgets to fund military.”
“I was elected to serve this country notwithstanding difficult circumstances – that is what I am doing,” Starmer told the BBC, rejecting Healey’s analysis. He said he had made “hard-edged” choices, including cuts to overseas aid, to make defence his “number one priority”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed departments are looking at further cutting their budgets to fund defence. “We are working together constructively in order to achieve that,” she said. “The Prime Minister has been absolutely crystal clear, this is the first responsibility of any government.”
The crisis comes as Starmer prepares to travel to the G7 summit in France on Monday for awkward meetings with world leaders including Donald Trump, with his defence plans unravelling at home.
In his resignation letter, Healey made scathing criticisms, saying the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) – which sets out how new military equipment will be paid for over the next decade – “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”. The Mirror understands Healey felt a 0.08% increase in defence spending committed in the plan was not sufficient to end years of hollowing out of Britain’s armed forces.
The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. But the proposed DIP would take spending to only 2.68% by 2030. Healey wanted 3%.
Starmer pointed to cuts to overseas aid as evidence he could make difficult decisions. Asked if he would reduce welfare spending to fund a further boost, he said the government was making changes to help people into work that would “free up resources”.
On Friday evening, it was announced that Louise Sandher-Jones has been made armed forces minister, replacing Carns. The new veterans minister is Calvin Bailey, while Angela Eagle is now a security minister, taking over from Dan Jarvis after he replaced Healey as defence secretary. Nandy said Jarvis, an Army veteran who served in the Parachute Regiment, “would not have taken the job unless he felt that we could meet this moment”.
In a veiled warning to potential leadership challengers, Starmer said: “Whoever is prime minister is going to face the same prevailing winds as I am facing.” He acknowledged he needed to “turn things around” but added: “If it does happen, I will fight.”