U.K Defence Secretary John Healey resigned from his office on Thursday, citing inadequate defence spending by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government.
In his resignation letter, which was posted on X, Healey said new threats faced by the United Kingdom required further investment through the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), which was also confirmed by the Labour government. However, Starmer was reportedly “unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling” to provide the required funding since the assessment was made in January.
Healey said U.K’s defence challenges have been growing since January partly due to the conflict in West Asia, with the United Kingdom “leading the multinational Strait of Hormuz military mission”, High North Security, and NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission. He also criticised the U.K government for not increasing defence spending fast enough to meet its budgeted expenditure as per the DIP. Amid mounting pressure from U.S President Donald Trump, the United Kingdom and other NATO nations had agreed to increase their defence expenditure, aiming to spend 3% of GDP by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035. NATO Defence Ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels next Thursday.
The resignation adds to the internal crises within Starmer’s government, increasing his chances of facing a leadership contest in the following months.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting had earlier resigned in May and pointed towards running in any contest for No.10 Downing Street.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who is arguably seen as Starmer’s biggest competition, is running for a byelection in Makerfield, in the North West of Engalnd next Thursday. The win would bring him to the UK Parliament, which is a necessary step if Burnham intends to challenge Prime Minister Starmer.
Starmer’s leadership is currently under fire after the Labour Party’s disastrous loss in the local elections, facing growing calls from within his own circle to step down.
