UK Defence Minister resigns in spat with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over budget

UK Defence Minister resigns in spat with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over budget
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer with former Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey before the latter's resignation. Photo in Barrow-in-Furness, Britain, on 20 March, 2025.
Reuters

British Defence Minister John Healey has 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.

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.

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