Overview
- John Healey resigned as defence secretary on Thursday, June 11, saying Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Treasury had refused to commit the resources the country needs to defend itself.
- Healey said the financial settlement he was shown this week would lift defence spending to about 2.68% of GDP by 2030 and described the package as backloaded and inadequate.
- Ministry of Defence officials have identified roughly a £28 billion shortfall to 2030 against the requirements from the Strategic Defence Review, while reported Treasury offers have been around £13.5bn–£15bn.
- Healey warned that accepting the settlement would force cuts that reduce forces’ readiness and cited rising threats from the Iran war, Russian activity in the High North, and escalation in Ukraine.
- The Defence Investment Plan remains unpublished with ministers saying it will appear before the NATO summit on July 7, and the resignation increases domestic political pressure, industry uncertainty, and allied scrutiny as talks continue over funding.