John Healey looks set to make a mockery of all of us who heralded his appointment as Chancellor as a major win for defence. With summer recess coming to an end, it feels like an age since Andy Burnham's new government made the short but awkward walk up Downing Street to find out what role they would play in the new Prime Minister’s team.
Seeing Healey making his way up the street first, caused shock amongst many who had tipped the race for the Chancellorship to be won by either Ed Miliband or Shabana Mahmood. Those of us in the defence world, who had spent the last 18 months screaming into the void for an increase in defence spending, suddenly had cause for relief.
A resignation that raised hopes
The man who resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s government over Rachel Reeves’ dogged determination to invest as little as possible in the armed forces would now replace her in Number 11. This was a man who accused the Prime Minister of being “unable” and the Treasury “unwilling” to “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country”.
Healey did so knowing that his resignation would set off the starting gun on the hounds baying for the removal of an unpopular leader. It was a man who had seen the Russian threat, in the land, air, sea and cyber domain and had led the fight for bolder action to bolster our military and deter the threats of Putin and his cronies.
Doubts emerge over commitment
There could be no better person in control of the purse strings that our armed forces relied on so heavily to protect our nation. Except that was perhaps misguided…
The former Defence Secretary called on the Treasury to invest more in defence. Perhaps Defence Secretary Wes Streeting’s refusal to commit to a target of 3% of GDP by 2030 showed that this government would not differ wildly from the last.
Budget plans raise questions
Reports emerging over the weekend suggest that the Chancellor is set to duck committing to the very defence spending he resigned in protest over in June. The forthcoming Budget will focus on funding the Defence Investment Plan, itself an example of decision making kicked into the long grass delivered late with a £5billion black hole left as a dirty protest by the former PM.
I am under no illusions that there is a heavy strain on the public purse in 2026 and a variety of competing demands. But Healey himself set out the risks that loom over us all if defence is not prioritised. Through this lens, having been so critical of his predecessor Rachel Reeves, how can he continue her legacy of defence, dither and delay?
