Britain's defense minister is leaving Keir Starmer's government, issuing strong criticism of his policies
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British defense minister John Healey resigned on Thursday amid a months-long dispute over military spending, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to commit the necessary resources to protect the country from growing threats.
The resignation, accompanied by bitter criticism of the prime minister, is another sign that Starmer's authority is waning. It also exposes the problem at the heart of the government: how to increase defense spending when there is little money to be made and the welfare budget keeps rising.
Healey, a former loyalist minister, has been locked in talks with Starmer and finance minister Rachel Reeves over how to meet additional military spending demands, delayed by Britain's Defense Investment Plan, which was due last year.
“You have not been able, and the Treasury is not willing, to make the services that the country needs to protect the country,” Healey said in his letter to Starmer.
Starmer responded with a letter expressing regret at Healey's resignation and appointed security minister Dan Jarvis in his place.
But at the same time that Starmer made that appointment, junior defense minister Al Carnes also backed out, saying the spending plans were “not designed for the threat we face.”
More pressure on Starmer
The unexpected resignation is another blow to Starmer, who may face a challenge to his leadership in the coming months.
Starmer's health minister, Wes Streeting, resigned last month, accusing the prime minister of a lack of vision. Another potential challenger, the Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, is trying to return to politics to launch a leadership bid.
Britain, historically a major military power, was left exposed in March when it was unable to send an advanced warship to Cyprus after its air base there was hit by an Iranian-made warplane. Already opposed to the US pivot away from protecting Europe, Britain is now the third largest country in NATO, having been overtaken by Germany in 2024. The investment plan was intended to bring the armed forces to a state of “war readiness.”
Starmer has promised the biggest ever increase in defense spending since the Cold War, aiming to raise it to three per cent of GDP in the next parliament, meaning tens of billions of pounds in extra defense spending.
But Healey said the plan he saw would increase defense spending to just 2.68 percent by 2030, from 2.6 percent next year.
Less than two years after leading his Labor Party to a landslide victory, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is deeply unpopular and fighting to keep his job. Nationally, CBC's Margaret Evans reveals the root of her political woes.
'Hammering' on Starmer
One Labor lawyer said Healey's resignation was “a blow to Starmer.” One said it was now inevitable that Starmer would be forced out within months, while a third said the move surprised the Labor defense team.
About a quarter of Starmer's lawyers called for him to step down after his Labor Party suffered the biggest loss in a local election in early May of any British prime minister in more than three decades.
Healey's departure, less than a month before the NATO summit, will not help.
Kevin Craven, head of British defense group ADS, said Healey's resignation was a “bad sign” of Starmer's approach.
“The consequences for the UK, and our partners, of making our Defense Investment Plan – as it now seems certain – are far greater than our worst fears,” he said.
