John Healey’s resignation is the beginning of the end for Starmer
HEpolitical earthquake Resignation rating on the Richter scale The shock resignation of John Healey as defense secretary, in a row over the funding of the armed forces, is the kind of event that would cause tall buildings with precarious foundations to collapse.
Mr Healey may not be a leading figure in the Cabinet, but he is widely respected and will always remain loyal to the Labor Party. This is not a man who makes a habit of rocking the boat.
So the fact that he has now lost confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s government, joining almost 100 Labor MPs who have already made this public, is a sign that this is truly over for the prime minister.
He will soon find a replacement as defense minister, but we are now counting the days rather than weeks or months until the real axe falls.
The problem Mr Healey highlights about the failure to deliver on defense spending promises is essentially a problem for a government standing on its own. It is barely functioning as a decision-making body and remains at a standstill as it remains to be seen whether Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham will win the Makerfield by-election and return to Westminster, where he hopes to take over as Labor leader and prime minister.
It’s a zombie government with so little life left that the prime minister stops asking questions after a big speech, as in his speech at London Technology Week on Monday.
There is a deputy prime minister, David Lammy, who does not want to hold a press conference on camera.
The bigger problem is the government’s inability to make or stick to big decisions. This was true as Sir Keir failed to get his welfare reforms passed by Labor MPs.
It is worth noting that Mr Healey has been discussed as a potential leadership candidate, a continuity candidate.
However, it seems unlikely that his resignation was related to personal ambitions; rather, it stems from frustration with a government that has failed to deliver on its commitments.
The commitment to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product is not just a matter of political confidence, but one that is increasingly necessary in a world increasingly concerned with conflict.
A classic sign of weak governments that have lost their way is that the Treasury can talk them out of their commitments.
Sir Keir has had the Defense Investment Plan (DIP) sitting on his desk for months, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the Treasury have been discussing it with Mr Healey and the Ministry of Defence. He couldn’t make a decision. Now it has cost him a loyal minister.
But the broader problem is more pernicious. Sir Keir’s premiership is now in disillusionment. We saw this in the angry reaction of Labor MPs to last month’s local government election bloodbath.
We saw similar anger in the resignation letters of the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and the Home Office’s Jess Phillips.
This is increasingly turning into a premiership with a prime minister who spells out plans but then fails to deliver on those plans.
Ultimately, if he is removed from office in the coming weeks, as many expect, then frustration and his inability to lead and manage will be his undoing.
