UK Armed Forces Minister Al Carns Quits Over £13.5 Billion Defence Plan
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
UK Armed Forces Minister Al Carns Quits Over £13.5 Billion Defence Plan
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11
Summary
Al Carns resigned on Thursday, saying the defence investment plan was neither transformative enough nor funded well enough for the military’s needs.
His exit came hours after Defence Secretary John Healey quit with a similar warning, arguing the proposed settlement falls short and backloads money despite urgent readiness pressures in the next two years.
Dan Jarvis was appointed defence secretary as Labour MP Pamela Nash also stepped down from the ministry, deepening a crisis that has further weakened Keir Starmer before a key by-election next week.
The row centers on a reported £13.5 billion MoD increase over four years, far below the £28 billion sought, as Starmer insists cuts elsewhere can still deliver a plan and meet a 3.5% of GDP defence goal by 2035.