On 11 June 2026, Defence Secretary John Healey resigned from Sir Keir Starmer's government, saying the prime minister had been 'unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats'. The resignation of one of Starmer's most senior ministers over the repeatedly delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has thrown the government's approach to military funding into crisis.
The Defence Investment Plan is a long‑promised document that is supposed to set out how the UK will increase defence spending to meet its NATO commitments. The UK currently spends around 2.4% of its GDP on defence. At a NATO summit in 2024, Starmer agreed to raise that to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Healey wanted a faster timetable, arguing in his resignation letter that the proportion must rise to 3% by 2030. But the Treasury, led by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has been resisting the scale of upfront spending Healey and the Ministry of Defence say is needed. The DIP, which had been due to be published in early June, was delayed amid this wrangling.
“An explainer on UK defence spending plans and why the Defence Secretary's resignation matters.”
This debate comes against a backdrop of rising global threats. As Healey listed in his letter: conflict in the Middle East, with the UK now leading the multinational Strait of Hormuz military mission; High North security, with the UK leading NATO's Arctic Sentry mission; increased Russian activity towards the UK and NATO nations; and heavier attacks on Ukraine, with a British deployment to Ukraine after a ceasefire confirmed by the Paris Agreement. Healey argued that the proposed DIP settlement would force him to make decisions that 'reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe'. A group of MPs has similarly warned that the chronic delay in the plan has 'left the UK less safe and undermined its credibility'.
For UK readers, this matters directly because it affects the country's ability to defend itself and fulfil its NATO obligations. It also has practical consequences: the armed forces may face cuts to readiness and personnel safety if funding does not increase. The Treasury's reluctance to commit large sums now, rather than backloading the spending, means difficult choices about tax rises or cuts to other public services are being postponed.
Q: Why did John Healey resign? Healey resigned because he was not satisfied with the proposed Defence Investment Plan, which he said 'falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time'. He blamed the prime minister for being 'unable' to commit resources and the Treasury for being 'unwilling' to do so.
Q: What is the Defence Investment Plan (DIP)? The DIP is a government document that sets out how the UK will increase defence spending to meet its NATO commitment of 3.5% of GDP by 2035. It was supposed to be published in June 2026 but was delayed due to disagreements between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over the scale and timing of investment.
Q: How much does the UK currently spend on defence? The UK currently spends about 2.4% of its GDP on defence. Healey wanted to raise that to 3% by 2030, and then to 3.5% by 2035. The government's proposed plan reportedly would only reach 2.68% by 2030, which Healey considered insufficient.
What happens next is uncertain. Starmer must appoint a new defence secretary from among his MPs – candidates include Scotland Secretary Ian Murray, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, and other MoD ministers like Luke Pollard and Heidi Alexander. The outcome of the by‑election in Makerfield, where Labour challenger Andy Burnham is standing, could also put further pressure on Starmer. Meanwhile, the DIP remains delayed, and the government must decide whether to increase defence funding now or face further criticism from MPs and allies.