British Defense Minister John Healey resigns

In a letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, John Healey criticizes the funding of the long-awaited Defense Investment Plan (DIP) and says it was not “no other option” than resign.

Originally scheduled for autumn 2025, the DIP is to set the UK’s defense spending for the next decade, but its publication has been repeatedly postponed, despite warnings of a significant funding gap for the armed forces.

“Your budgetary compromise for the DIP, of which I learned in its entirety on Monday afternoon this week, falls far short of what is necessary for defense and for the country in this dangerous period”writes John Healey in his resignation letter.

“You know what the defense needs, he continued. Without a DIP up to the challenge, I am forced to make decisions that would reduce the level of preparation of our forces and increase the risks for personnel in operations, and could make the country less secure.

John Healey adds that the Labor government will continue to benefit from his support and that he is proud of the work accomplished in this position.

Al Carns, Minister of State for the Armed Forces and Labor MP for Birmingham Selly Oak, responded by saying Johan Healey had given back to his country “a serious service in a serious time”.

“I worked closely alongside him. I saw the hours, the attention and the seriousness that he put into each file, including the most difficult”he wrote on X, adding that the Ministry of Defense was facing problems that “ne se prêtent pas à des solutions simples”.

Robert Jenrick, of the far-right Reform UK party, also reacted, welcoming John Healey’s decision and saying that Keir Starmer and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, should also resign.

“This government finds all the money in the world for Ed Miliband’s crazy plans, foreign aid and benefits for foreigners. But nothing for our armed forces. Well done John Healey. Shame on them”at-il déclaré.

In a social media post, Conservative MP and former Foreign Minister James Cleverly added that he had “always respected” John Healey and this one “clearly takes the defense of the kingdom and our interests more seriously than Keir Starmer or Rachel Reeves.”

John Healey’s resignation comes amid mounting pressure on Keir Starmer and is the latest in a series of ministerial departures since former health minister Wes Streeting left in May.