Britain's Defence Minister, John Healey, and Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns, have resigned from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government over a disagreement about defence spending. 

Healey announced his resignation in a letter posted on X, saying the government had failed to commit sufficient resources to protect the country at a time of growing security threats.

“You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats,” he wrote.

Al Carns resigned hours later, saying the UK was "failing" to provide adequate kit to soldiers.

"We owe those who serve the UK the kit to do the job and the loyalty to stand by them when it's done. We are failing on both," he said.

Dispute over spending target

Healey had pushed for Britain's defence budget to increase to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030.

However, he was informed on Monday that defence spending would rise to only 2.6 per cent of GDP by 2030, prompting his decision to step down.

Carns, an ex-marine, said that the proposed funding plan for defence was "not built" for the threats the UK faces.

• Starmer, Macron and Merz back Zelenskyy's bid for Putin talks
• Mandelson files reveal criticism of Starmer and ambassador vetting details
• UK to introduce EU partnership bill as Starmer seeks to reset relations

Following Healey's resignation, Keir Starmer rejected the former minister's claim that the UK government had failed to properly fund the military. 

"The Defence Investment Plan does just that delivering an unprecedented increase in defence spending in a sustainable way," Starmer said.

"It will provide the resources our military needs to keep us safe and the clarity the British defence industry needs to plan," he added.

Tags

News Politics Keir Starmer UK politics