Keir Starmer's government has been shaken to its core after two esteemed defence ministers resigned with devastating criticism of military spending plans. The Prime Minister was dealt a significant blow on Thursday after the shock resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey, triggering a crisis in the Ministry of Defence.
Second Minister Quits Hours Later
Hours later, Al Carns, a former Royal Marine, quit as Armed Forces Minister with a withering broadside criticising "inadequate" defence funding. Pamela Nash, a ministerial aide in the department, also resigned that evening, and Rachel Hopkins, another aide, walked out.
Healey's Blistering Resignation Letter
In his resignation letter, Mr Healey accused the Prime Minister of not standing up to the Treasury, which he claimed was unwilling to commit the funds needed to defend the nation. Ministers have been locked in a tense battle over how to fund the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which is already more than six months late.
Carns' Withering Broadside
In his resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Carns said: "We ask soldiers to fight for this country. In return, we owe them the kit to do the job and the loyalty to stand by them when it's done. We are failing on both." He added that the "machinery of government itself has been left to decay."
New Defence Secretary Appointed
Dan Jarvis has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary after John Healey's bombshell resignation. The Security Minister was handed the top Cabinet post nearly nine hours after Mr Healey quit. Mr Jarvis stepped in amid the crisis.
Business Secretary Defends Approach
Business Secretary Peter Kyle on Friday insisted the DIP is not in "tatters" and is "being developed." He told Times Radio: "The plan is being developed. We are determined to get it right. We are talking about an enormous amount of money going into defence at a period of time where we have to modernise the way we think about defence, but also make sure that we do so in a way that benefits British jobs."
Mr Kyle told Sky News the Government will increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP in the early period of the next Parliament and 3.5 per cent by 2035. He also said any increases to spending needed to be funded responsibly, adding: "If we did it in a way that was irresponsible, then you'd end up impacting the growth of our economy and it would be a zero sum game."
Mr Starmer has vowed to promise the plan by the NATO summit on July 7.
