Poll: Is Rachel Reeves the Worst UK Chancellor of All Time?
The shock resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey reveals that Chancellor Rachel Reeves blocked efforts to give the armed forces the funding they need, according to Whitehall Editor Jonathan Walker.
John Healey’s shocking resignation as Defence Secretary may be the final nail in the coffin for Sir Keir Starmer’s government. It’s often said that the first duty of any government is to protect its people. The Defence Secretary has made it clear that he does not believe the current Labour administration is doing that.
His resignation letter also makes it clear that the blame lies as much with Chancellor Rachel Reeves. It seems she has refused to supply the armed forces with the money they need to keep the nation safe - even though the huge threat from Russia has been known since at least 2022, when the invasion of Ukraine began. And Sir Keir appears to be unable to do anything about it, according to the letter.
Mr Healey said, in his letter to the Prime Minister: “You have 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.” It raises the question - is Rachel Reeves the worst Chancellor this nation has ever had? Have your say in our poll below.
Referring to the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), Mr Healey said: “You know what defence needs. You made the argument for this powerfully in your speech at the Munich Security Conference back in February. Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.”
And Mr Healey's allies have been saying privately that the Ministry of Defence was only offered £10 billion of extra money on Monday - while an additional £3.5 billion was described as "Treasury trickery" and not real cash.
