John Healey has hit out at the Defence Spending Plan which he says is inadequate (Getty)John Healey has dramatically resigned as defence secretary, warning Sir Keir Starmer that his defence investment plan (Dip) “falls well short of what is required”.His shock resignation comes amid mounting tensions within the Cabinet over the publication of the long-delayed plan, which will set out how new equipment and defence infrastructure will be funded in the next decade.In his resignation letter to the prime minister - which he said he "never expected to write" - Mr Healey accused Sir Keir and the chancellor of having been “unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats".Mr Healey said the financial settlement for the Dip which he received on Monday “falls well short of what is required”, with extra support coming after 2030 when the “imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years”.“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”, he wrote. Analysis: John Healey’s resignation is the beginning of the end for StarmerPolitical editor David Maddox highlights how John Healey’s resignation goes well beyond a row over defence spending:Athena Stavrou11 June 2026 13:31Former defence secretary warns resignation ‘couldn’t be more serious’A former defence secretary has warned John Healey’s resignation “couldn’t be more serious” for the country.Sir Malcolm Rifkind, who served as defence secretary in John Major’s government, said the timing of Healey’s resignation “could not be more damaging”.“It couldn’t be more serious,” he told Sky News. “Not just for the government but for the country as a whole.“Defence is a fundamental issue of national security and for a defence secretary to resign from the government, in the knowledge that what is about to be announced as the government’s improvements on defence is simply inadequate. “That could not be more damaging not just to the government but potentially to the wider national interest.”Athena Stavrou11 June 2026 13:27Labour MPs: Healey will be ‘sorely missed’ as defence secretaryThe news of John Healey’s resignation has been met with disappointment from some Labour MPs.MP for York Outer Luke Charters called Healey a “true statesman” whose commitment to Britain’s Armed Forces “has never wavered”.“He’ll be sorely missed in this role,” he wrote on X.Another Labour MP, Emma Lewell, said she was “so sad” to see the resignation, but added it was “totally understandable.”Athena Stavrou11 June 2026 13:20Former Labour shadow chancellor warns cabinet resignations could ‘paralyse’ governmentA former Labour shadow chancellor has warned resignations in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet could “ render the government paralysed by lack of leadership”.John McDonnell, who served in the party’s shadow cabinet from 2015 to 2020, said the second major resignation within a month highlights a “remarkable instability” in government.“Second member of Keir Starmer’s cabinet to resign in a month,” he wrote on X in response to John Healey’s resignation. “Despite a huge Parliamentary majority there is a remarkable instability about this administration that, if it isn’t addressed soon, could render the government paralysed by lack of leadership.”Athena Stavrou11 June 2026 13:13Who could be the next defence secretary?Left to right: Al Carns, Luke Pollard, Douglas Alexander (Getty/PA)John Healey was widely viewed as one of the most dependable members of Sir Keir Starmer’s top team. A loyalist, who has never before publicly rocked the boat, he has also steered the Ministry of Defence through its support for Ukraine and response to the Iran war. Replacing him would be a difficult job, even if Sir Keir was not facing a possible challenge to his own leadership from Andy Burnham.Douglas AlexanderThe Scotland secretary is already in the cabinet and is known to have ambitions beyond his current role. A former minister in the last Labour government, he is a hugely experienced politician who would be seen as a safe pair of hands.Al CarnsThe current Armed Forces minister is a former Royal Marine who served five tours of Afghanistan. He would be a popular choice for the role among Labour MPs. But could he really sign up to a defence investment plan that Mr Healey complained would force him to make decisions that would “increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe”?Luke PollardAlso a minister in the MoD, he has been in charge of defence readiness and industry since last September. A Plymouth MP and the son of a former Royal Navy submariner, he has an understanding of defence issues that could help steer the department through this turbulent time.Kate Devlin11 June 2026 13:11Healey's time as defence secretary in picturesJohn Healey emerges from a trench after being shown around as British personnel participate in Exercise Spring Storm on 21 May 2026 (Getty)John Healey speaks with a member of 2 SCOTS of the 4th Light Brigade as they participate in exercise Spring Storm on 21 May 2026 (Getty)John Healey uses a controller to try an FPV drone training system in 2025 (Getty)John Healey speaks with personnel from 2 SCOTS of the 4th Light Brigade as Allied Forces participate in Exercise Spring Storm on 21 May, 2026 near Voru, Southern Estonia (Getty)Dan Haygarth11 June 2026 13:09Opposition MPs accuse PM of ‘not taking threats seriously’John Healey’s resignation has left Sir Keir Starmer vulnerable to accusations he is failing to protect the UK’s security.Opposition MPs were quick to call out the prime minister and his chancellor publically following the former defence secretary’s damning resignation letter.Tory MP and former foreign secretary James Cleverly said the resignation shows Healey “clearly takes defence of the realm and defence of our interests more seriously than either Keir Starmer or Rachel Reeves.”Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick accused the government of having “all the money in the world for Ed Milliband’s mad plans, foreign aid, and benefits for foreigners. But nothing for our armed forces.”Athena Stavrou11 June 2026 13:00What is the Defence Investment Plan?In a damning letter, John Healey has resigned as defence secretary over government failures to properly fund the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).Sir Keir Starmer has insisted the Dip will be published ahead of a Nato summit this summer, but it has been long delayed by government infighting over funding.The plan was called for by the government’s Strategic Defence Review, which set out a vision for UK defence over the next ten years, almost exactly a year ago.The Dip was to “deliver the SDR’s vision” by providing detail of the capabilities and numbers behind the strategy.Athena Stavrou11 June 2026 12:55Defence secretary John Healey’s resignation letter in fullIn a letter, Mr Healey said the prime minister had been “unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats”.The plan, originally called for by the strategic defence review almost exactly a year ago, has been long delayed by wrangling over funding.Read his letter below:Dan Haygarth11 June 2026 12:53Healey is fourth cabinet minister to quit since Labour came to power in 2024John Healey is the fourth Cabinet minister to leave Sir Keir Starmer’s front bench since coming to power and the second to resign over policy differences after Wes Streeting quit as health secretary last month amid the fallout from Labour’s local election losses.His letter brought praise from Conservative MPs, with former soldiers Tom Tugendhat and Ben Obese-Jecty describing it as “principled”.Mr Tugendhat, a former defence minister, said the letter “states clearly this administration has failed”.He added: “I’ve criticised every party for the state we’re in but the truth is now clear: the complacent confidence in peace is over. We must rearm.”Dan Haygarth11 June 2026 12:52