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UK Defence Secretary John Healey resigns over military spending dispute
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John Healey, the UK defence secretary, resigned after a dispute with the Treasury over insufficient military funding, arguing that the Defence Investment Plan fell short of what is needed amid rising threats. His departure adds pressure to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who faces calls to raise defense spending to 2.5 % of GDP by 2027 and 3 % by 2034.
It is our intelligence assessment, and the assessment of other countries in Nato, that there could be an attack by Russia on Nato as soon as 2030.
Without a Defence Investment Plan that meets the moment, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase risks to personnel.
Your DIP [defence investment plan] 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.
Without a Dip that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.
You know what defence needs. You made the argument for this powerfully in your speech at the Munich Security Conference back in February.
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.
You have 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.
That a defense secretary of his integrity and commitment has felt compelled to resign in response to the inadequacy of the proposed defense settlement is a grave moment.
This country is safer because of the decisions Keir Starmer has made and we will continue to act in our national interest.
What we are seeing all over the alliance is countries increasing their defense investments, and of course it is not easy, because in the end there is always a trade-off with other expenses, which are also important.
Healey knows the threats we face, he knows the capabilities and shortfalls the armed forces have, and if he believes that the financial settlement is not enough to keep the country safe — to the extent that he cannot honorably stay in post — then we are in trouble.
It just further underlines a lack of control here, a lack of clarity, a lack of resolution, a gap between words and delivery.
sources
- 1.The Times of India
- 2.The Guardian
- 3.The Straits Times
- 4.Al Jazeera
- 5.CNN
- 6.Le Monde
- 7.France 24
- 8.The New York Times
- 9.Golf News
- 10.Los Angeles Times
- 11.The Irish Times
- 12.Arab News
perspectives
- 1.Russian Foreign Policy
- 2.British Foreign Policy
- 3.Election
- 4.Inflation
- 5.British Politics
- 6.European defense
- 7.BREXIT
- 8.Immigration to the UK
countries
- 1.United Kingdom
- 2.Russian Federation
- 3.Ukraine
- 4.Iran, Islamic Republic of
- 5.France
- 6.Turkey
- 7.United States
- 8.Germany
- 9.Norway
organizations
- 1.Labour Party
- 2.North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
- 3.10 Downing Street
- 4.Christ's College
- 5.Conservative Party
- 6.Royal United Services Institute
- 7.British Armed Forces
- 8.British Conservative Party
- 9.British Royal Marines
- 10.Chatham House
- 11.Munich Security Conference
- 12.Police Scotland
persons
- 1.John Healey
- 2.Keir Starmer
- 3.Andy Burnham
- 4.Rachel Reeves
- 5.Wes Streeting
- 6.Donald Trump
- 7.Al Carns
- 8.Gordon Brown
- 9.James Cartlidge
- 10.Kevin Craven
- 11.Mark Rutte
- 12.Tan Dhesi