Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure over defence spending after the resignation of two senior ministers and allegations of “unbelievable” waste within the Ministry of Defence. The row comes as world leaders gather at the G7 summit in France, where Starmer is expected to discuss international security commitments.
Former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns told the Guardian in an exclusive interview that mismanaged programmes, such as investment in tanks, should be scrapped in favour of new technology. Carns resigned last Thursday alongside Defence Minister John Healey, who quit on a point of principle over long-term defence funding.
The resignations weaken Starmer’s position amid a growing “rhetoric-to-reality gap” over defence spending. The government has committed to a Nato target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, but plans only a modest rise to 2.6% by 2027, with no clear path beyond that.
Experts say the row exposes deeper uncertainties about Britain’s global role, particularly as the US under Donald Trump shifts positions on alliances. Starmer had previously called for a “radical renewal” of European Nato, but critics argue he has failed to match rhetoric with action.
The Treasury, constrained by Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules, has limited room to increase spending without cuts elsewhere. With dwindling goodwill among ministers, Starmer’s leadership faces increasing scrutiny as the international landscape grows more volatile.
