Keir Starmer has committed at least £1bn more for UK military spending following the resignation of his Defence Secretary, John Healey. The long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is set to be unveiled on Tuesday as the Prime Minister attempts to shore up his legacy in what could be his final week in office.
Healey's Resignation Over Funding Gap
Mr Healey resigned after a proposal to increase military funding by £13.5 billion fell well short of the £18 billion he had demanded, following months of intense negotiations between Number 10, the Ministry of Defence, and the Treasury. In his resignation letter, he called on Starmer to commit to “a head mark date for 3% of GDP on defence in 2030”, noting that Starmer’s plan would only reach 2.68%.
New Defence Secretary Reworks Plan
The new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis, has reworked the plan and made “stark choices” to prioritise the armed forces’ readiness for combat and the use of autonomy across all services, according to the Financial Times. The blueprint will include more investment in drones and other autonomous systems than originally proposed by Healey, including uncrewed ground vehicles for the British Army to resupply the frontline and evacuate casualties.
Extra Cash a Victory for Jarvis
The extra funding represents a victory for Jarvis, following government briefings in the immediate wake of Healey’s resignation that no further money would be forthcoming for his successor. The “hard deadline” for finalising the document is July 6, ahead of the Nato summit which begins the following day in Turkey.
