Starmer stands firm on defence funding plan after John Healey quits
John Healey has resigned as defense secretary, accusing the Prime Minister of failing to adequately fund a major defense plan, despite Sir Keir Starmer’s insistence that the plan would “deliver the resources our military needs to keep us safe”.
Mr Healey tendered his resignation on Thursday afternoon, saying the Prime Minister was “incapable and the Treasury was unwilling” to provide adequate funding for the Defense Investment Plan (Dip).
Originally proposed by the Strategic Defense Review almost a year ago, Dip has faced significant delays due to ongoing disputes over its financial support.
Responding to the departure of one of Labour’s senior figures, Sir Keir conceded in his own letter that the Government must “go further” on increasing defense funding. But he said: “The Defense Investment Plan does just that and delivers an unprecedented increase in defense spending in a sustainable way.”
He added: “It will provide the resources our military needs to keep us safe and the clarity the British defense industry needs to plan. It will make the big strategic investments we need for the long term and provide the certainty private finance needs to invest.”
“It will enable us to transform, modernize and support our armed forces with the tools they need to change the way we fight and deter our enemies.”
Sir Keir concluded his defense of the plan by saying it would “significantly ensure that the money spent is spent wisely and used to support jobs and growth in Britain”. He confirmed the plan was backed by “necessary investment” and that supporting spending increases would be “sustainable and fair”.
The Prime Minister, in turn, warned that additional defense spending “will mean a significant allocation of funds from Government ministries.”
Sir Keir concluded his letter to Mr Healey with the following words: “Making these decisions is never easy. I am determined to rebuild our country, which has been struggling with crises for years. I am sorry that you will not be part of this work in the future.”
Mr Healey revealed on Monday afternoon that he had received a financial settlement for Dip “well below what was required”. He emphasized that extra support is planned to come after 2030, although “the obligation to accelerate war readiness is within the first two years.”
He said: “After explaining to you that I cannot accept a Dip agreement that does not provide our forces with the resources they need, I now have no choice but to submit my resignation as your defense minister.”
Sources said the Government planned to publish the Dip on Thursday, but with a £13.5 billion increase that military chiefs deemed insufficient for the necessary transformation of the armed forces.
While the government has pledged to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defense by 2035, Mr Healey criticized the proposed plan for its slow progress; Defense spending is projected to rise only to 2.68 percent in 2030, after reaching 2.6 percent next year.
Without a Drop that “seizes the moment,” he warned, “we will be forced to make decisions that will reduce the readiness of our forces, increase the risk to personnel in operations, and make our country less safe.”
Sources also said the Treasury’s proposed deal did not specify a date for increasing spending to 3% and was trying to force the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to only plan to reach that figure by 2034/35.
An ally of Mr Healey described the former defense secretary as “one of Labour’s staunchest men for over 30 years” and who “just wanted a successful Labor government”.
