The British Prime Minister is facing a wave of ministerial resignations that threatens to bring down his government. In the space of a few days, four cabinet ministers have left Keir Starmer's team, the latest being Defence Secretary John Healey, who quit over a dispute about military spending. With a by-election looming in the constituency of Makerfield, a Labour stronghold where the favourite to win is one of Starmer's own party members, the Prime Minister's grip on power is looking increasingly fragile.
At its simplest, this is a political crisis triggered by a breakdown of trust between Starmer and his own party over defence policy. The immediate cause was the government's refusal to commit the £28 billion that the armed forces said was needed just to maintain current capabilities, instead offering only £10 billion. John Healey, a loyal and centrist Labour figure, wrote in his resignation letter that Starmer had been "unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at a time of rising threats." He was joined by Armed Forces Minister Al Carns. This followed the earlier resignations of three other cabinet ministers, leaving Starmer's authority severely weakened.
“Explaining the wave of ministerial resignations threatening Keir Starmer's premiership.”
The background to this crisis goes back months. Intelligence warnings have repeatedly highlighted the threat from Russia, with Starmer himself saying just weeks earlier that Russia could attack a Nato country by 2030. A Strategic Defence Review, co-authored by former Nato Secretary General George Robertson, warned of "corrosive complacency". But Starmer and his Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, chose not to act. They did not launch a public conversation about the threats, nor did they impose new taxes or deep cuts to other departments to fund defence. The result was a Defence Investment Plan that the heads of the armed forces were ready to denounce as a recipe for cuts and retreat.
For UK readers, this matters because it touches on the most fundamental duty of government: keeping the country safe. The resignations have come just before a crucial Nato summit in Turkey, where Britain now faces embarrassment from allies. Domestically, the crisis also exposes a deeper problem: the inability of any recent government to balance defence spending with the demands of health, welfare and other public services. Labour MPs are already plotting to protect those budgets, meaning the deadlock is unlikely to be resolved easily.
Q: Why are ministers resigning from Keir Starmer's government? Ministers are resigning because they believe Starmer is not doing enough to fund defence. The immediate trigger was the government's refusal to commit the £28 billion needed for defence, offering only £10 billion instead. Defence Secretary John Healey said the Prime Minister had failed to keep the country safe at a time of rising threats from Russia.
Q: Who is Andy Burnham and why is he important? Andy Burnham is the Mayor of Greater Manchester and a former Labour cabinet minister. He is standing in the Makerfield by-election, which he is expected to win easily. If elected, he is expected to launch a leadership challenge against Starmer, and sources say he is already organising a future Downing Street operation and choosing his top team.
Q: What happens to the government if more ministers resign? If a wave of resignations follows the by-election, as happened to Boris Johnson in the final days of his premiership, Starmer would find it extremely difficult to remain in power. He has said he will fight any leadership contest, but a flood of resignations would likely force him to reconsider his position. The next few weeks will be critical.
What happens next depends on the outcome of the Makerfield by-election, due to take place next Thursday. If Andy Burnham wins as expected, a leadership challenge could come immediately. Meanwhile, a Nato summit in early July will put Britain's defence spending under international scrutiny, adding more pressure on Starmer to act. Whether he can survive this crisis – or whether it will lead to a change of prime minister – remains to be seen.