John Healey Resigns as UK Defence Chief, Al Carns Quits Over Defence Investment Plan

U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday, warning that Keir Starmer’s long-awaited Defence Investment Plan risked making Britain “less safe” amid “rising threats.”

“UK defense secretary resigns, saying the government isn’t willing to spend enough on the military UK defense secretary resigns, saying the government isn’t willing to spend enough on the military LONDON (AP) — U”

AP News

In the evening, Armed Forces Minister Al Carns also quit, resigning as armed forces minister along with Healey aide Pamela Nash, leaving Starmer facing a defense-spending dispute just days before a NATO summit.

AP News

Healey said in a resignation letter posted on his X account that “You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” and he argued the DIP settlement would not give “our Forces the resources they need.”

Starmer moved quickly to appoint Dan Jarvis as Healey’s replacement, and said “My first duty is to keep the British people safe, and I will always do what is necessary to protect our national security.”

Healey’s resignation letter framed the dispute as a failure to match rhetoric with funding, saying the government’s planned defense spending levels were “inadequate for the challenges facing Britain and its allies.”

Al Carns, in his resignation letter posted on social media, said “The character of conflict is changing faster than our procurement can keep up with,” and argued “We are asking our Armed Forces to operate in a more dangerous world on a budget written for a calmer one.”

CBS News

The Guardian reported that Healey accused Starmer and chancellor Rachel Reeves of putting the country’s security at risk, quoting Healey’s line that “You have been unable and the Treasury has been unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.”

Opposition reaction followed quickly, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski saying the resignation showed “This is a government in chaos, unable to govern, with no leadership, under a caretaker Prime Minister who's expected to be replaced within weeks.”

The resignations intensified pressure on Starmer as the government prepared to publish the Defence Investment Plan ahead of a NATO summit, with Healey’s departure coming amid reports of disagreement between the Defense Ministry and the Treasury.

“UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suffered a fresh blow on Thursday after Secretary of Defense John Healey resigned over a budget dispute, saying the government is not willing to give the British Armed Forces the “resources they need”

CNN

Healey said the Treasury’s plan he received on Monday would see defense spending rise to just 2.68% in 2030 after hitting 2.6% next year, and he warned “I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation.”

The Associated Press reported that Starmer appointed Dan Jarvis late Thursday and said the funding plan would provide “sustainable and fair” spending increases that would keep the U.K. safe, while critics argued the pace was too slow.

The political fallout also sharpened ahead of a by-election, with the BBC noting the contest could prompt a bid to replace Starmer, and the VnExpress report saying the resignations weakened Starmer’s authority “a week before a by-election that could prompt a bid to replace him.”