A serious political crisis has erupted within the British government. The UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, has resigned, publicly accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to provide the military with necessary resources. The politician announced this on his X account, publishing the text of a letter addressed to the head of the government.
Criticism of the Financial Plan and Security Threats
In his statement, Healey severely criticized the government's proposed financial model — the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). According to the minister, this plan fails to address the critical needs of the armed forces. Healey pointed out a fundamental contradiction in the strategy: the government is betting on long-term financing, whereas security threats require an immediate response and strengthening of defense capabilities right now.
The minister emphasized that the country's leadership is fully aware of the scale of the risks. Specifically, this refers to the likelihood of a Russian attack on NATO countries, which, according to forecasts, could occur as early as 2030. Keir Starmer himself had previously stated such risks at the Munich Security Conference.
Demands for the Defense Budget
During preceding discussions, Healey insisted on the need to review the United Kingdom's commitments within NATO. His goal was to achieve a defense spending level of 3% of GDP by 2030. However, as the letter indicates, these demands were rejected.
"You were unable, and the Treasury was unwilling, to allocate the resources necessary for the country to defend itself during a period of growing threats," Healey wrote to the Prime Minister.
Consequences for Military Readiness
The minister's resignation resulted from the inability to agree on a budget that, in Healey's view, could ensure real combat readiness. The politician admitted that he was forced to make decisions that effectively reduced the capabilities of the British army, as there was no alternative funding.
"Having explained to you that I cannot agree to a defense budget deal that does not provide our armed forces with the necessary resources, I have no choice but to resign from my post as Secretary of State for Defence," Healey concluded.
This move comes against the backdrop of recent statements by Keir Starmer that the UK needs to urgently increase defense investments, relying on intelligence data regarding Russia's readiness for aggressive actions against the alliance.