British Defence Secretary John Healey has stepped down, accusing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Treasury of failing to provide sufficient funding for national defence at a time of rising global threats.
Healey said the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, which is meant to outline military spending over the next decade, does not allocate enough resources to properly support the armed forces. In his resignation letter, posted on his X account, he said he could not accept a settlement that would leave the military under-resourced and potentially increase risks to personnel.
The resignation is a major setback for Keir Starmer, coming amid growing political pressure on his government ahead of a key by-election that could further test his leadership.
Healey argued that the Treasury had not committed the level of funding required, warning that the proposed spending pathway—reportedly reaching about 2.68% of GDP by 2030—falls short of what is needed to ensure national security. He added that delaying or weakening defence investment could leave the country “less safe.”
The dispute has been building for months, with repeated delays in publishing the defence funding roadmap, which had originally been expected much earlier but is now reportedly still under review ahead of an upcoming NATO summit.
Labour’s government, elected in 2024 after years of Conservative rule, has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP next year, with further rises planned over the coming decade if it remains in power.
Political pressure is also mounting within Labour, as figures such as Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham are seen as potential voices in any future leadership contest, even though no formal challenge has been triggered.
The resignation has sparked concern in parliament, with Tan Dhesi describing the situation as serious and urging the government to take the warning seriously.
Security analysts at the Royal United Services Institute also noted that the resignation could complicate efforts to finalise the defence plan and stabilize government policy.
Despite the crisis, government officials insist that defence spending plans will still strengthen the military and improve national security in the long term.
