Keir Starmer's leadership faces increased scrutiny after the surprise resignations of defence secretary John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns. Speculation grows about Andy Burnham potentially replacing Starmer later this year.
Key points
Keir Starmer's leadership is under pressure.
John Healey resigned as defence secretary.
Al Carns also resigned as armed forces minister.
Speculation about Andy Burnham replacing Starmer is increasing.
Starmer's record on defence was previously seen as impressive.
Mentioned in this story
Keir StarmerJohn HealeyAl CarnsAndy Burnham
From
Good morning. This time yesterday Keir Starmer’s leadership was already in peril, with many in his party assuming that he will be replaced by Andy Burnham at some point later this year, but there was a consensus that, on defence and international security, his record was impressive. John Healey’s surprise resignation as defence secretary blew that apart. Later, after 8pm last night, Al Carns, the armed forces minister, also resigned over the defence investment plan.
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 here.
In his letter to Healey, Starmer defended the defence investment plan (Dip), which has not been published but which prompted Healey’s resignation because, when he saw what he thought was the final version on Monday, he concluded that it did not commit enough money to the armed forces. Starmer said:
double quotation markYou 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.
That implied the version of the Dip that was unacceptable to Healey would not be changed.
But this morning Peter Kyle, the business secretary, has been giving interviews on behalf of the government – and he implied it was still being finalised.
Kyle told Times Radio “the plan is being developed” and “we are determined to get it right”. And on Sky News he said:
double quotation markWe are setting [the Dip] out before the Nato summit, [in] early July, what that looks like, and we are just finalising those plans.
Q&A
Why did John Healey resign as defence secretary?
John Healey resigned unexpectedly, which has raised questions about Keir Starmer's leadership and his record on defence.
Who is expected to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader?
There is speculation that Andy Burnham may replace Keir Starmer later this year amid ongoing leadership challenges.
What impact do the resignations of Healey and Carns have on UK politics?
The resignations have intensified scrutiny on Starmer's leadership and could affect Labour's position on defence and international security.
What was the reason for Al Carns' resignation as armed forces minister?
Al Carns resigned over the defence investment plan, further complicating the political landscape for Keir Starmer.
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At one point the government was expected to publish the Dip this week. The Nato summit does not start until 7 July, and so Kyle’s comments imply publication has been held back.
In his Times Radio interview, Kyle also rejected a suggestion that the government’s defence policy was “in tatters”. When this was put to him, he replied:
double quotation markNo, 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.
Last night Dan Jarvis, the former security minister, was appointed defence secretary. We don’t know yet whether, as a condition of taking a job, he insisted on a revision of the Dip spending figures that Healey criticised so strongly. But he is due to attend an event at a drone factory in Swindon this morning, and so we might get some clarification there. Earlier this morning he arrived at Downing Street.
Dan Jarvis arriving in Downing Street this morning.
Dan Jarvis arriving in Downing Street this morning. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
(According to Politico, the visit to the drone factory was planned some time ago, and at one point it was thought this could be where Healey would be announcing the publication of the Dip. But on Wednesday the Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, said that releasing such an important announcement when the Commons was not sitting would be “an utter disgrace and an utter kick in the face” to MPs, and – before Healey resigned – the government abandoned plans for an annoucement today.)
We will also get a lobby briefing at 11.30am which may – or may not – provide some clarity. Otherwise, the political diary for the day looks quite empty.
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