Healey quits as Defence Secretary over funding battle

John Healey resigned after telling Starmer the Defence Investment Plan "falls well short of what is required" and could make Britain "less safe" amid rising threats from Russia and the Middle East. The Treasury refused to commit the resources Healey believed necessary for readiness and modernisation, triggering the first major cabinet departure of Starmer's government. Defence contractors and industry groups immediately called for urgent clarity on procurement plans, signalling concern about pipeline visibility. Healey's exit over fiscal constraints exposes the gap between Labour's security rhetoric and spending reality as threats escalate across multiple fronts.