STORY
John Healey has resigned as Defence Secretary after a dispute with the Prime Minister and the Treasury over defence spending. Healey said the settlement for the Government’s Defence Investment Plan was not sufficient to meet the security challenges facing the United Kingdom.
In his resignation letter, Healey said the resources available would not provide the level of military readiness he believed was required. The Defence Investment Plan had been delayed for several months while ministers considered future military capability, procurement and spending commitments.
The resignation comes amid wider debate over defence funding, the condition of the Armed Forces and the UK’s ability to respond to threats in Europe and beyond. The departure of the Defence Secretary is expected to intensify scrutiny of the Government’s defence policy and its timetable for increasing military spending.