Defence investment plan criticized as ‘too little, too late’ ahead of launch
9 reported
The UK government is set to publish its defence investment plan (Dip) today, a policy that has been in development for over a year and triggered the resignation of former defence secretary John Healey. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will give a speech on the plan at a location outside London before new defence secretary Dan Jarvis presents it to MPs. Opposition parties have already criticized the plan as insufficient. The Dip was originally due in the autumn but is being released ahead of the Nato summit in Turkey next week. The plan reportedly raises defence spending to 2.68% of GDP by the end of the decade, a figure that led to Healey's resignation as he wanted 3% by 2030. The Guardian reports this as a single-source story.
What’s reported
The defence investment plan (Dip) is being published today, June 30, 2026.
Keir Starmer agreed to stand down next month to let Andy Burnham replace him.
Starmer said he would not make major policy announcements in his final days, but considered the Dip an existing commitment.
The government published its strategic defence review (SDR) more than a year ago.
The Dip was originally due in the autumn but is being released before the Nato summit in Turkey next week.
John Healey resigned as defence secretary earlier this month because he wanted defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP by 2030 and was unhappy with the Dip only lifting it to 2.68% by the end of the decade.
Dan Jarvis is the new defence secretary and has squeezed a bit more out of the Treasury.
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the plan is "too little, too late" and "barely more money than John Healey and Al Carns resigned over."
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called the plan "late and underfunded" and "unforgivable," saying it puts jobs and businesses at risk.
Key figures
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister
Andy Burnham, incoming Labour leader
John Healey, former defence secretary
Dan Jarvis, defence secretary
James Cartlidge, shadow defence secretary
Ed Davey, Liberal Democrat leader
Al Carns, mentioned as having resigned with Healey
Sources: The Guardian
