John Healey Quits as UK Defence Secretary, Becoming Starmer's 6th Ministerial Resignation
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
John Healey Quits as UK Defence Secretary, Becoming Starmer's 6th Ministerial Resignation
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Summary
John Healey resigned after rejecting a Monday deal on the delayed Defence Investment Plan, saying Starmer was "unable" and the Treasury "unwilling" to provide the resources needed to defend Britain.
£13.5 billion of extra military spending over four years would have lifted defence outlays only to 2.68% of GDP by 2030, short of the 3.5% Healey argued was necessary.
The departure makes Healey the sixth minister and fourth cabinet minister to quit Starmer's government, deepening pressure on a prime minister already weakened by Labour's poor election results last month.
A new defence secretary must now be found days before a NATO ministers' meeting in Brussels and with the spending plan still mired in Treasury funding disputes.
The resignation sharpens a wider question for Starmer's government or any successor: how to fund a major defence buildup through spending cuts, higher borrowing or tax rises.