UK’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, has resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s government after warning that the UK’s new defence funding plan does not provide enough support for the armed forces at a time of growing global threats.
In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Healey said the Defence Investment Plan “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.
He argued that the funding settlement fails to meet the needs of the military as Britain faces rising security challenges.
He also revealed that he only received the full financial settlement on Monday afternoon, describing it as the first time he had seen the complete package in detail.
Mr Healey wrote: “after explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation”.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is expected to set out how the government will fund military equipment and defence infrastructure over the next decade.
However, the plan has already faced delays after reports that the Ministry of Defence requested an additional £28bn over four years, based on internal assessments. The government now expects to publish the document ahead of a NATO summit next month.
On Monday, Mr Healey told MPs that the prime minister “is determined that we publish the defence investment plan before the Nato summit”. He also highlighted areas he was proud of in office, including UK support for Ukraine during its war with Russia and efforts to strengthen Britain’s leadership role within NATO.
Despite that, he expressed clear concern about the level of funding attached to the plan, saying the settlement “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.
His resignation has surprised many in Westminster. Mr Healey is known to have built a reputation as a loyal minister who rarely briefed against colleagues or publicly challenged government decisions.
The UK’s ranking among NATO defence spenders has fallen sharply over the past five years.
Some officials believed the government’s pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP would ease pressure. But expectations soon shifted as demands for greater investment increased.
Mr Healey had also faced criticism for earlier signalling that he would not seek additional funding, a position he later had to adjust as demands grew.
Reports also suggest internal tensions within the Ministry of Defence, with some ministers left out of key decisions.
Reaction to his resignation has been swift. Conservative MP and former foreign secretary James Cleverly said on X that he has “always respected John Healey”.
“He clearly takes defence of the realm and defence of our interests more seriously than either Keir Starmer or Rachel Reeves.”
Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick also welcomed the move. He wrote on X: “This Government has all the money in the world for Ed Milliband’s mad plans, foreign aid, and benefits for foreigners. But nothing for our armed forces.
“Good on Healey. Shame on them. Reeves and Starmer should go too. And with them this wretched Labour Government.”
The resignation leaves the government facing renewed scrutiny over its defence priorities at a sensitive moment for UK security policy, just weeks before a key NATO summit.
