New crisis in the Starmer government: the Minister of Defense resigns

LondonNew crisis in Keir Starmer's government. And one that has erupted to everyone's surprise. British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned this Thursday in disagreement with the executive's new Defence investment plan. Or, in fact, with the lack of investment, according to his criteria. In a harsh letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Healey accuses Downing Street of not being up to the current geopolitical moment and denounces that the final document – the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) – has been significantly watered down after months of disputes between Number 10, the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury.

This report was supposed to "establish a ten-year vision to transform our armed forces, strengthen alliances, invest in the technology that is changing the way war is fought, and support British industry so that defence becomes a driver of growth". But according to Healey's words, "you have been unable, and the Treasury unwilling, to commit the resources the nation needs to defend the country at this time of growing threats".

The Treasury only offered the Ministry of Defence an additional £10 billion in real cash for its investment plan over the next four years. The actual agreement was for an extra £13.5 billion, but military chiefs considered that £3.5 billion of this was little more than Treasury accounting operations and, therefore, the amounts were entirely insufficient. The final increase was only 0.08%. "The defence investment plan falls far short of what the armed forces and the country need at such a dangerous time," Healey also states in his letter.

As a result of the resignation, it is certain that the presentation of the strategic investment plan for the armed forces, which was due to be announced this week, will be delayed. Starmer would have liked to arrive at the NATO summit in early July, in Turkey, in a stronger position, with clear accounts, to be able to face the usual criticisms from US President Donald Trump about London's lack of budgetary commitment to the Atlantic Alliance.

A country "less secure"

almost a hundred Labour MPs called for Starmer's resignationpremier at a time of growing pressure for the government to increase military spending in the face of Russia's aggressiveness and uncertainty about the United States' commitment to European security.

The resignation letter is very harsh in tone and will do nothing to help Starmer's delicate position. Quite the opposite. "You outlined the threats last week. This is the assessment of our intelligence services, as well as those of other countries and NATO: Russia could attack the Atlantic Alliance as early as 2030. You know what defense needs, and that is why you strongly advocated this argument in your speech at the Munich Security Conference last February. Without a plan that lives up to the moment, I am forced to make decisions that will reduce the readiness of our forces, increase the risk to personnel and operations, and could make the country less safe."

In other words, Healey accuses Starmer of ignoring his own warnings. A devastating accusation for a prime minister who next week could see a declared rival to present himself as an alternative to his leadership, the popular Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester,, return to Parliament if he wins the Makerfield by-election, a prerequisite for challenging his leadership.

Just a few weeks ago, when almost a hundred Labour MPs called for Starmer's resignation following the catastrophic result of the local elections on May 7, Healey was one of the ministers who spoke in favor of Starmer's continuity. Not by chance, in his farewell he begins by saying, "I would never have imagined having to write this letter, and I do so now with great sadness and reluctance."