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.
Former Labour shadow chancellor warns cabinet resignations could ‘paralyse’ government
A 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 13:13
Who could be the next defence secretary?
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 Alexander
The 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 Carns
The 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 Pollard
Also 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.
Healey’s time as defence secretary in pictures
Dan Haygarth11 June 2026 13:09
Opposition 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 13:00
What 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 12:55
Defence secretary John Healey’s resignation letter in full
John Healey has resigned as defence secretary after accusing Sir Keir Starmer of failing to properly fund the defence investment plan.
In 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:
Defence secretary John Healey’s resignation letter in full
He has accused Sir Keir Starmer of failing to properly fund the defence investment planDan Haygarth11 June 2026 12:53
Healey is fourth cabinet minister to quit since Labour came to power in 2024
John 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
56% of Britons agree that military funding should rise
Dan Haygarth11 June 2026 12:50
Analysis: Healey’s loyalty makes his excoriating resignation letter even more damning
John Healey said his resignation letter was a letter he “never expected to write”. Typically a very loyal Labour minister, the defence secretary is not one of the usual Labour trouble makers. It is this that makes his excoriating letter to Starmer so damning.
While he acknowledged that the PM has led efforts to step up internationally for Ukraine and “establish Britain as a leading voice for Europe in Nato”, Mr Healey pulls no punches in his criticism of the lack of funding in the defence investment plan.
“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”, he wrote.
Millie Cooke11 June 2026 12:47
Why is John Healey so angry about Britain’s defence spending?
John Healey’s resignation is a shock – purely because he’s such a loyal minister – but when you look at the recent warnings from key military figures over Britain’s defence, it’s also deeply unsurprising.
Concerns that we would not be able to defend ourselves in the face of mounting global turbulence are only growing. In recent months, the former head of the Royal Navy warned that Britain’s armed forces are on the “brink of disaster” because of a lack of investment, while the former head of the Armed Forces, Lord Stirrup warned an inadequate announcement on funding would continue decades of “hollowing out” of the services.
Clearly, in the upcoming defence investment plan, Healey believes that Starmer has not adequately heeded those warnings, leaving the former secretary of state with no choice but to quit his post.
Millie Cooke11 June 2026 12:43NewerOlder