John Healey resigns as defence secretary over funding battles

Thursday 11 June 2026 12:22 pm

| Updated:

Thursday 11 June 2026 12:23 pm

Healey has resigned as defence secretary.

John Healey has resigned as defence secretary after months of tension with Sir Keir Starmer over funding for an uplift in spending on the armed forces. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Healey said the government’s draft for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”. “After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation as your defence secretary,” Healey wrote.This is a breaking story. More to follow.