John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary has dealt a devastating blow to Keir Starmer’s leadership, with Labour MPs describing the departure as “massive” and “a principled stand”. In a letter published on X, Healey said Starmer was “unable” and the Treasury “unwilling” to commit the resources needed for defence. The former minister had seen the long‑awaited Defence Investment Plan and found it “woefully deficient”. Luke Charters, the MP for York Outer, said the resignation reflected “a culture of timidity within government” and “a failure to match the moment”.
The crisis strikes as Starmer faces a defining test in the Makerfield byelection on Thursday. The constituency, a small area between Manchester and Liverpool best known as the home of Wallace and Gromit, will decide whether Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, can enter parliament and challenge Starmer for the premiership. “The whole thing is fucking bonkers,” said John Oliver on Last Week Tonight, noting that Starmer had “failed to kickstart Britain’s sluggish economy” and made the “disastrous” decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a longtime friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as ambassador to Washington. Donald Trump said of Starmer: “This is not Winston Churchill that we are dealing with.”
“Healey quits as defence secretary, calling Starmer 'unable'; Makerfield byelection could decide PM's fate.”
Starmer’s unpopularity has deepened after Labour lost more than 1,400 seats in local elections this May. Many former supporters have drifted to the Greens. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s Reform party gained nearly 1,500 seats last month, propelled, in Oliver’s words, by “bigotry and grievance”. Reform now faces a challenger from the even further‑right Restore Britain, whose leader Rupert Lowe has promised to tackle the “creep of radical Islam” and reimpose “Christian‑based rule”. Elon Musk posted: “Only Restore Britain can save Britain.”
Healey’s resignation has triggered a search for a successor. Al Carns, the armed forces minister, ruled himself out, calling the Defence Investment Plan “not fit for purpose” and telling Starmer to “sort it out”. One Labour source predicted the replacement would be a “tragic loyalist”. Another MP said: “This has reminded everyone that Starmer’s leadership isn’t sustainable.” With 76,000 voters in Makerfield about to decide the prime minister’s fate, the question is whether the damage is already fatal.