Starmer faces race to defuse defence funding shambles before seeing Trump at G7 – as minister admits John Healey’s replacement still wants more cash

Keir Starmer is racing to iron out lapses in his defense ahead of a potentially tough meeting with Donald Trump at the G7.

Just a day before the Prime Minister heads to a meeting in France, the bitter row over funding is yet to be resolved.

This will include talks with the US President, who has been highly critical of Britain’s military capabilities and demanded that NATO countries increase their spending.

A Cabinet minister confirmed this morning that the new Defense Secretary is still demanding more cash.

Lisa Nandy said discussions about how to increase the funding package offered to John Healey, which led to his resignation last week, were happening in ‘real time’.

His successor, Dan Jarvis, today laid down a sign that he is determined to get the military ‘what they need’.

Asked on the BBC this morning if she wanted to ‘find more money’ for the Government’s Defense Investment Plan, Ms Nandy said: ‘Yes.’

‘These discussions are happening in real time,’ he added.

Sir Keir is desperately trying to strengthen his position after it was revealed that only a £10bn funding increase has been offered for the DIP.

The summit will also include talks with Donald Trump, who has been highly critical of Britain’s military capabilities and demanded that NATO countries increase their spending.

Dan Jarvis puts up a sign today saying the military is determined to get ‘what it needs’

The plan was delayed by months of negotiations amid warnings from military chiefs that there would be a £28bn shortfall in budgets over the next four years.

Mr Healey resigned on Thursday and was escorted out the door by his deputy, Al Carns, and two deputy ministers, all of whom condemned the deal.

There was an agonizing nine-hour wait before Mr Jarvis, the security minister, was finally appointed to the key post.

The chaotic event further loosened Sir Keir’s grip on power; Andy Burnham is set for a leadership challenge if he wins Thursday’s Makerfield by-election.

Mr Jarvis told the Sunday Telegraph he had a ‘huge responsibility’ to the soldiers who risked their lives for their country.

‘The defense of our nation is a joint effort… I have a huge responsibility in this regard right now, but so do all the people who are putting themselves at risk tonight, tomorrow, next week, and we owe them a debt of gratitude,’ he said.

‘I now have a responsibility to them to make sure they get what they need, and people need to be very clear about my commitment to fulfilling those duties to make sure they (get) exactly what they need.’

Sir Keir welcomed his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi to Downing Street today.

Much of the discussion was on defence, including the initiative to develop the Gcap fighter jet, which the Prime Minister said was “at the heart of the relationship between our two countries”.

Sir Keir said Britain and Japan were ‘working more closely’ on defense and that there were ‘many issues to discuss in a changing world’.

Ms Nandy told Sky News she did not believe Mr Jarvis ‘would have taken the job if he wasn’t sure we could seize the moment’.

‘A clear picture is emerging from this Government that we are diverting resources from other ministries to fund defence, including my own and other ministries, and we continue to do that.

‘So defense remains the highest priority and I disagree that we are not committing the resources we need. However, when the threat level changes, when the global situation changes, we have to change our approach.’

Ms Nandy disputed Mr Healey’s claim that Prime Minister Sir Keir had failed to allocate the resources the country needed to defend itself at a time when threats were increasing.

‘I disagree with him on this point, because these are discussions that are being had right now,’ he said.

Ms Nandy said she was looking at areas in her department where funding could be cut after speaking to Sir Keir about the issue on Friday.

He told the BBC’s program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: ‘These conversations are not over yet. Negotiations are ongoing as we speak.’

Mr Healey’s allies have expressed disappointment at the change in DIP, with one saying: ‘More money is coming, but only as a result of Healey’s resignation… this is another incredible U-turn.’

Mr Burnham said he would ‘not dither’ about reducing the welfare bill to fund defense spending.

The mayor of Greater Manchester said the ‘world has changed’ and it was ‘clear’ the Government would have to adjust its assumptions about defense spending in response.

But Mr Burnham appears to be taking a similar line to Sir Keir in that welfare cuts should be delivered by getting people back to work rather than through active cuts.

Lisa Nandy admitted discussions were going on ‘in real time’ about how to increase the package offered to John Healey – which led to his resignation last week

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has written to potential Labor leadership rivals urging them to cut welfare spending and defend austerity.

Ms Badenoch offered Sir Keir and his potential successors her party’s support to get the necessary legislation passed through Parliament.

The Prime Minister is likely to face tough questions on defense spending when leaders of the powerful G7 countries meet in France tomorrow.

Sir Keir and Mr Trump arranged a meeting when they spoke on the phone yesterday.

Sir Keir and the alliance’s general secretary, Mark Rutte, spoke about the DIP on Saturday morning.

A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘NATO secretary-general welcomed the UK’s increased investment in defense as an important contribution to the alliance and meeting the threats we face.’