Three senior defence figures have launched scathing attacks on Keir Starmer, accusing him of leaving British troops underfunded and unable to carry out expected operations. In separate interventions in parliament on Tuesday, former defence secretary John Healey, former defence minister Al Carns, and Chief of the Defence Staff Rich Knighton all criticised the prime minister's approach to defence spending.
Healey and Carns Resign in Protest
Healey and Carns delivered their Commons resignation speeches after quitting the government over the Defence Investment Plan (Dip), which provides an additional £13.5bn to the Ministry of Defence over four years. Healey stated: "I took the decision to resign with the very greatest regret and reluctance. I continue to be certain about this decision. In time, I believe it will be seen as necessary in securing the future of our armed forces and of our alliances."
He added: "This is not the moment for calibration or incremental change. This means bigger politics, bolder priorities, harder choices, and Britain’s challenge now is the transformation and the rearmament of our armed forces." He criticised the current defence investment plans as falling "well short of what is required – a rise of 0.08% from next year to 2030, no date for reaching 3%, no path to 3.5% by 2030."
Carns echoed these sentiments, urging the House to "push for transformation, push hard, and push for delivery this side of 2030," and warned that the military is "spending too much time preparing for last year’s war, not tomorrow’s."
Military Chief Warns of Reduced Operations
Speaking to parliament’s defence select committee, Knighton warned that Britain would have to "dial back" on military operations in Europe, Ukraine, and the Middle East if the MoD does not receive more funding. "We’ll have to dial back our activities; our exercise, operational activity, if the level of resource funding that is available to us does not increase," he said.
The three interventions highlight growing concerns among Labour MPs about Starmer’s reluctance to embrace radical policy options and his apparent unwillingness to overrule Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The backlash could impact Starmer’s future, especially with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham hoping to win the Makerfield byelection on a platform to challenge the prime minister.
Streeting Calls for Timetable, Starmer Resists
Former health secretary Wes Streeting urged Starmer to set a departure timetable if Burnham wins his seat. "When the results are in, I hope the prime minister will reflect on his own position and set out a timetable. I think that would be a better way forward for everyone," Streeting said.
However, Starmer insisted he would not accept such demands. Speaking from the G7 summit, he said: "I don’t think there should be a contest. If there is a contest I intend to be in it and to fight it." He also rejected pressure to increase the defence budget, noting that he had delivered "the biggest uplift in defence spending since the 1980s" and that the Dip focuses on future capabilities.
Sources indicate that Starmer has given new defence secretary Dan Jarvis two weeks to review the Dip before its announcement ahead of the Nato summit in early July.
