Friday 12 June 2026 12:14 pm
Armed forces minister quits as defence funding row deepens
Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership has been dealt another major blow as defence ministers quit the government over a lack of funding for security. It was confirmed on Friday that the Defence Investment Plan had still not yet been completed after months of wrangling and delays. But on Thursday, John Healey resigned as defence secretary in a brutal announcement that criticised Starmer and Rachel Reeves over failing to provide funding for defence spending. He said a draft for the plan handed to him earlier this week did not raise defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030. Later in the evening, the armed forces minister Al Carns, who has been touted as a potential future Labour leader, also quit over the funding.Carns cited “inadequate” funding in a letter to the Prime Minister and added to accusations levelled against Starmer that he was failing to defend the country. He also criticised the plan’s lack of focus on innovation and lessons learnt from Ukraine.Healey’s blistering letter said Starmer was “unable” and “unwilling” to fund defence, adding: “Your DIP financial settlement – which I was first given in full on Monday afternoon this week – falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time.”
