THE BRITISH DEFENCE secretary John Healey has resigned, becoming the latest member of prime minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet to quit the government.

Healey cited a lack of investment in the country’s military as his reason for resigning.

In a letter to Starmer, he 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”.

While the government has committed to spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035, Healey said a spending plan he was presented with on Monday moved too slowly, with defence spending rising to just under 2.7% in 2030 after hitting 2.6% next year.

Healey is the fourth cabinet minister to leave Starmer’s government since Labour came 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 recent local election losses.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth (left) with John Healey in Washington DC last year Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Labour MP and chairman of the country’s Defence Committee Tan Dhesi paid tribute to Healey as a “serious, committed and respected defence secretary” and said his resignation was “a grave moment” and a warning the government should treat with “utmost seriousness”.

Healey’s letter brought praise from Conservative MPs, with former soldiers Tom Tugendhat and Ben Obese-Jecty describing it as “principled”.

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.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Healey’s resignation showed Starmer’s premiership was “falling apart”, adding the prime minister had “no plan whatsoever”.

She said: “I don’t see how he can stay in this job. He can’t run the country. He is paralysed because his backbenchers only want to spend money on welfare.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said Healey’s departure should act as “a wake-up call” for Starmer and potential leadership challenger Andy Burnham, urging them to “get serious about funding our armed forces properly”.