{"id":349444,"date":"2026-06-12T01:50:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T20:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=349444"},"modified":"2026-06-12T01:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T20:20:33","slug":"u-k-defence-minister-resigns-says-military-spending-plans-well-short-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/12\/u-k-defence-minister-resigns-says-military-spending-plans-well-short-national\/","title":{"rendered":"U.K. defence minister resigns, says military spending plans \u2018well short\u2019 – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

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U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly quit on Thursday, saying the federal government is unwilling to spend enough on the military at a time of \u201crising threats.\u201d The resignation dealt one other blow to embattled\u00a0Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who’s already facing demands from Labour colleagues to step down.<\/p>\n

Healey told Starmer in a letter that the federal government\u2019s Defense Investment Plan falls \u201cwell in need of what’s required at this dangerous time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Publication of the plan has been delayed amid reports of disagreement between the Defense Ministry and the Treasury.<\/p>\n

Starmer said in a letter to Healey that he was sorry to see him go, but insisted that the funding plan would supply the mandatory military resources to maintain the UK protected.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe increases in spending that underpin this plan shall be sustainable and fair,\u201d Starmer said. \u201cThey’ll mean significant reallocations of funding from across government departments and the correct selections to guard our nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Healey was followed out the door several hours later by Al Carns, a decorated war veteran who served as a outstanding junior minister within the Defense Ministry. Carns has been suggested as a possible contender within the anticipated contest to challenge Starmer\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tCritics say defense spending boost is just too little, too late\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Starmer has pledged to spice up U.K. defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and three% by 2035. But many within the military say that isn\u2019t fast enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation must defend the country right now of rising threats,\u201d Healey wrote in his resignation letter.<\/p>\n

He said that the spending plan recommend by the Treasury, and presented to him on Monday, would see defense spending rise to only 2.68% in 2030, after hitting 2.6% next 12 months.<\/p>\n

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Healey said that isn\u2019t enough with growing demands on defense and British military commitments, citing\u00a0the Iran war, Russia\u2019s all-out\u00a0invasion of Ukraine\u00a0and threats from Moscow.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI’m now left with no other option than to submit my resignation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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Gen. Richard Barrons, who helped lead a defense review that underpins the investment plan, said the federal government is \u201cactively going backwards\u201d by refusing to fund its own review.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt diminishes the U.K.\u2019s standing inside NATO, weakens our credibility with allies, and increases our vulnerability to the realities of Twenty first-century conflict,\u201d he said. \u201cAllies and adversaries alike shall be being attentive.\u201d<\/p>\n

The federal government said that it was delivering \u201cthe biggest sustained boost to defense spending because the Cold War.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis country is safer due to the selections Keir Starmer has made and we’ll proceed to act in our national interest,\u201d it said in an announcement.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tHealey is taken into account a protected pair of hands\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Healey has been U.K. defense secretary because the Labour Party government was elected in July 2024, and he\u2019s thought to be a capable and serious minister.<\/p>\n

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