UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared defence spending his number one priority following the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey. In an interview with the BBC, Starmer insisted he would not walk away from his role despite growing pressure and a potential leadership challenge from figures like Andy Burnham.
Starmer's Defence of His Position
Starmer acknowledged the need to "turn things around" after a series of crises, including Healey's departure over a dispute about defence investment. He warned that any successor would face the same difficult decisions, given the current international conflicts and economic impacts. "Whoever is prime minister is going to face the same prevailing winds as I am facing. None of that is going to change," he stated.
The prime minister also addressed the possibility of a leadership challenge, saying, "I'm not going to walk away. I don't think we should plunge the country into the chaos of a leadership election." He emphasised that his determination stems from a sense of duty, not personal vanity.
Healey's Resignation and Criticism
In a scathing resignation letter on Thursday, Healey accused Starmer of jeopardising national security by failing to stand up to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. He criticised the slow progress towards spending at least 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035. Armed Forces Minister Al Carns also resigned, citing insufficient spending on the military and wrong weapon choices.
The Pentagon's policy chief, Elbridge Colby, added to the pressure by calling for greater British military strength, urging the UK to act with urgency and determination.
Leadership Speculation Intensifies
With Andy Burnham expected to win the Makerfield byelection and return to Westminster, many Labour MPs see a leadership challenge as imminent. Wes Streeting, former health secretary, who quit Starmer's government last month, could also be involved. Starmer, however, remains resolute, stating he intends to lead Labour into the next general election.
Defence Investment Plan Delayed
On Friday, Starmer met new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis and Chief of Defence Staff Richard Knighton to discuss the delayed Defence Investment Plan (Dip). A No 10 spokesperson said work was "ongoing to finalise the Dip at pace." Starmer told the BBC the plan would be published before the NATO summit in Ankara early next month, marking the final deadline.
Starmer highlighted that his government has overseen "the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the 1980s" and noted that all departments have submitted cuts to non-frontline spending to finance the plan. He dismissed the notion of easy decisions, stressing that every choice involves trade-offs.
When asked if he would fight a leadership challenge, Starmer reaffirmed his commitment: "If it does then I will fight. And let me just be clear with you: that's not about personal vanity, it's not about stubbornness. It's out of a very deep sense of duty."
