Starmer under pressure after defence ministers quit
Good morning. As of yesterday, Keir Starmer’s leadership was already under significant strain, with many within his party anticipating that Andy Burnham might replace him later this year. Despite this, there was a general consensus that Starmer’s record on defence and international security was strong. However, John Healey’s unexpected resignation as defence secretary has challenged that perception. Subsequently, after 8pm last night, Al Carns, the armed forces minister, also resigned.
Here is our main story, by Pippa Crerar and Dan Sabbagh.
Here is an analysis by Jessica Elgot.
And you can read the exchange of letters between Starmer and Healey.
Starmer defends defence investment plan amid resignations
In his letter to Healey, Starmer defended the defence investment plan (Dip), which remains unpublished but was the catalyst for Healey’s resignation. Healey resigned after reviewing what he believed to be the final version on Monday, concluding that it did not allocate sufficient funds to the armed forces. Starmer wrote:
You are also right that we have to go further. The defence investment plan does just that — delivering an unprecedented increase in defence spending in a sustainable way. It will provide the resources our military needs to keep us safe and the clarity the British defence industry needs to plan. It will make the big strategic investments we need for the long term and give the certainty which private finance needs to invest. It will allow our armed forces to transform and modernise and back them with the tools they need to change the way we fight — and to deter our enemies. And crucially it will ensure the money spent is spent wisely and used to back jobs and growth here in Britain.
This statement implied that the version of the Dip that Healey found unacceptable would remain unchanged.
Business secretary indicates plan still being finalized
However, this morning Peter Kyle, the business secretary, gave interviews on behalf of the government, suggesting that the plan is still under development. Kyle told Times Radio, "the plan is being developed" and "we are determined to get it right." On , he added:
We are setting [the Dip] out before the Nato summit, [in] early July, what that looks like, and we are just finalising those plans.
Initially, the government was expected to publish the Dip this week. The Nato summit begins on 7 July, so Kyle’s remarks imply that publication has been delayed.
During his Times Radio interview, Kyle also dismissed suggestions that the government’s defence policy was "in tatters." When confronted with this claim, he responded:
No, the plan is being developed. We are determined to get it right. We are talking about an enormous amount of money going into defence at a period of time where we have to modernise the way we think about defence, but also make sure that we do so in a way that benefits British jobs. This is highly complex.
Dan Jarvis appointed defence secretary amid uncertainty
Last night, Dan Jarvis, the former security minister, was appointed defence secretary. It remains unclear whether, as a condition of accepting the role, he demanded revisions to the Dip spending figures that Healey criticized so strongly. Jarvis is scheduled to attend an event at a drone factory in Swindon this morning, which may provide some clarification. Earlier today, he arrived at Downing Street.
According to Politico, the visit to the drone factory was planned as a significant event, and at one point it was anticipated that Healey might announce the publication of the Dip there. However, on Wednesday, the Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, stated that releasing such an important announcement while the Commons was not sitting would be unfair to MPs. Consequently, before Healey’s resignation, the government abandoned plans for an announcement today.
Upcoming briefings and political outlook
A lobby briefing is scheduled for 11.30am, which may or may not provide further clarity. Otherwise, the political diary for the day appears relatively light.
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