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UK Defence Secretary bows out

Posted by Europe correspondent on

Brussels 12.06.2026 Embattled British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appointed a new defense secretary June 11, Thursday night after a spate of resignations that further challenged his authority and laid bare a bitter dispute over funding for the country’s armed forces.

Starmer named Dan Jarvis, a former Army officer and Home Office minister, to the top defense job, hours after John Healey quit with a blast at Starmer, accusing the prime minister of “forcing” him to sign up to a defense funding plan that “could make the country less safe.”

John Healey has quit as defence secretary after a battle in government over a long-delayed military spending plan.

Healey said a proposed settlement for the defence investment plan (DIP) “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.

And in a scathing resignation letter, he said the prime minister had been “unable” and the Treasury “unwilling” to “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats”.

In response, Sir Keir Starmer said the plan would deliver “an unprecedented increase in defence spending” in a “sustainable and fair” way, without relying on “irresponsible borrowing”.

Armed Forces Minister Al Carns also resigned on Thursday evening, saying the government was “failing” to support the military with “the kit to do the job”.

“I’ve spent my whole time in government making that case,” Carns said. “Number 10 will not listen, so I am resigning as minister for the armed forces.”

The shock resignation of Healey, one of Sir Keir’s most loyal cabinet allies has stunned the government, and further weakened a prime minister whose long-term future in Downing Street was already in doubt.

It also comes days before a crucial by-election at which Labour candidate Andy Burnham is seeking a return to Westminster to enable him to challenge Sir Keir for the premiership.

The UK state budget is burdened by historically high national debt, chronic budget deficits, and soaring debt interest payments. Stagnant economic growth and an aging population have severely strained public services, leaving the government in a bind between raising taxes to record levels and cutting essential spending.

The UK economy was hit hard by the energy crisis: global prices for gas, electricity, oil and other fuels started to increase from summer 2021 when economies began opening up after pandemic related-lockdowns. This underlying increase was magnified by reduced supply of fuels from some producers and increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Prices increased further in late 2021/early 2022 and spiked after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

Furthermore the Middle East crisis has caused severe volatility in wholesale gas and oil markets, primarily driven by supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. This has resulted in higher petrol and diesel prices at the pumps, forcing the UK energy regulator to increase the price cap for millions of households.

The energy price shocks have directly held back UK economic growth, with recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showing GDP contracted by 0.1% as businesses grapple with higher costs.Industrial Costs: UK industrial electricity and gas prices are already among the highest in the developed world. Businesses—particularly SMEs—are facing severe strain as they try to manage elevated, volatile non-domestic energy contracts.

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