Who could replace John Healey as defence secretary after he dramatically quits over spending row
John Healey’s dramatic resignation over the defense spending row sent shockwaves through the government.
Widely seen as one of the most trusted members of Sir Keir Starmer’s top team, he is a Labor loyalist and has never publicly turned the tables until now.
He was also highly successful in steering the Ministry of Defense through a period of major and growing international unrest, securing support for Ukraine during the ongoing conflict with Russia, and directing the UK’s response to Donald Trump’s war on Iran.
Even if Sir Keir was not facing a possible challenge to his leadership from Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, replacing him would be a difficult task in normal times.
But Mr Healey’s resignation letter contained harsh criticism of the government, particularly its handling of the Treasury’s defense spending.
Who Sir Keir appoints as his new defense minister could reveal a lot about the support the Prime Minister still enjoys from his own MPs and his vision for his government.
Douglas Alexander
The Scotland secretary is already in the cabinet and is known to have ambitions beyond his current role.
A former minister in the last Labor government, he is a highly experienced politician who could be seen as a reliable pair of hands.
Al Carns
The current Armed Forces minister is a former Royal Marine who served five tours of duty in Afghanistan. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in combat and is still regarded as a ‘man of action’; climbed Everest last year, aiming to raise more than £1 million for military charities.
He would be a popular choice for the role among Labor MPs.
But could he really sign up to a defense investment plan that Mr Healey complained would force him to make decisions that would “increase the risk to personnel in operations and make the country less safe”?
Following the resignation, he tweeted that Mr Healey had “given serious service to this country at a serious time”. But he added that the threats facing the country “have not paused for a change of Secretary of State”, saying that the UK’s Armed Forces deserve a “Ministry of Defense that matches their seriousness with our own. That is the job. It continues today.”
In a sign of what could happen if he accepts the job, he also said the defense investment plan is “not fit for purpose” in its current form.
Luke Pollard
Also a minister in the Ministry of Defense, he has been in charge of defense readiness and industry since last September.
A Plymouth MP and the son of a former Royal Navy submariner, he has knowledge of defense issues that could help steer the department through this turbulent period.
Heidi Alexander
Heidi Alexander entered cabinet last year following another resignation by the then transport minister, Louise Haigh, over a ten-year conviction for falsely reporting to police that her work mobile phone had been stolen.
Ms. Alexander’s rise has been rapid. He could only re-enter parliament in the 2024 general elections. Prior to this, he served as deputy mayor of London for transport.
But this is his second time in the House of Commons. During his first stint as MP for Lewisham, he gained a reputation as a very able and successful politician.
Just a few weeks ago he had also denied that he was planning to disembark to support Mr Burnham and had so far remained loyal to Sir Keir.
While he is widely viewed as doing a good job in his current briefing, he may be a candidate for promotion.
