UK Defense Secretary Quits After Sharp Budget Clash With Starmer

British Defense Secretary John Healey announced today, Thursday, that he is resigning from his post after a prolonged clash with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government over the size of Britain’s defense budget.

In a sharply worded letter published by Healey, he wrote to Starmer: “You have failed, and the Treasury was not prepared, to allocate the resources the country needs to defend itself in a time of growing threats.” He said the budget arrangement presented to him “falls far short of what is required for the security of the state in this dangerous period.”

Healey warned that he is being required to make decisions that could harm the readiness of British forces, increase the risk to soldiers in operational activity, and even make Britain less safe.

The resignation comes after months of disputes between the Defense Ministry and the Treasury over funding for the defense investment plan, which was intended to prepare the British military for “war-fighting readiness.” The background includes rising threats from Russia, along with criticism of Britain’s military preparedness in recent times.

The move is another political blow for Starmer, who is also facing internal pressure within the Labour Party and growing criticism of the government’s policy.