Two UK Defense Chiefs Resign Over 3.5% GDP Spending Dispute as Dan Jarvis Takes Over
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 11
Two UK Defense Chiefs Resign Over 3.5% GDP Spending Dispute as Dan Jarvis Takes Over
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 11
Summary
John Healey quit as UK defense secretary and Al Carns resigned soon after, saying Keir Starmer’s government is denying the armed forces resources needed for a more dangerous security environment.
Their letters tied the break directly to delayed funding decisions before a defense overhaul due ahead of next week’s NATO summit, with Healey saying current allocations fall well short of requirements.
Dan Jarvis was appointed defense secretary later Thursday as Starmer defended his record, citing the biggest sustained rise in defense spending since the Cold War and a plan requiring major budget reallocations.
The clash lands as Britain faces pressure to prepare for a possible Russian threat by 2030 and as Starmer, weakened by poor local election results, confronts growing unrest inside Labour.