Starmer leadership under pressure after two defence ministers resign
7 reported1 unconfirmed
According to a single-source report from The Guardian, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership is under further pressure following the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns. Healey resigned after seeing what he believed was the final version of the defence investment plan (Dip) on Monday, concluding it did not commit enough money to the armed forces. Carns resigned later that evening over the same plan. Business Secretary Peter Kyle stated in interviews that the plan is still being developed and will be published before the NATO summit in early July. Dan Jarvis, the former security minister, has been appointed as the new defence secretary. The Guardian reports that the government had previously planned to publish the Dip this week but abandoned that plan after the Commons speaker criticized releasing such an announcement while Parliament was not sitting.
What’s reported
John Healey resigned as defence secretary after seeing what he thought was the final version of the defence investment plan on Monday.
Al Carns, the armed forces minister, resigned later that evening over the defence investment plan.
In his letter to Healey, Starmer defended the plan, calling it an “unprecedented increase in defence spending in a sustainable way.”
Business Secretary Peter Kyle told Times Radio “the plan is being developed” and said on Sky News it will be set out before the NATO summit in early July.
Dan Jarvis, the former security minister, has been appointed defence secretary.
The government had planned to publish the Dip this week but abandoned that after Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle said releasing such an announcement when the Commons was not sitting would be “an utter disgrace.”
The Guardian reports that many in Starmer’s party assume he will be replaced by Andy Burnham later this year.
Open questions
It is unclear whether Dan Jarvis insisted on a revision of the Dip spending figures as a condition of taking the defence secretary job. It is also unclear when the final version of the Dip will be published.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister
John Healey, former defence secretary
Al Carns, former armed forces minister
Peter Kyle, business secretary
Dan Jarvis, new defence secretary
Andy Burnham, mentioned as potential successor to Starmer
Lindsay Hoyle, Commons speaker
Sources: The Guardian
