Ministry of Defence

Defence Secretary quits with damning warning over Britain’s military readiness

Published

47 seconds ago

June 11, 2026

DEFENCE SECRETARY John Healey has resigned in a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer, warning that the Government’s defence spending plans risk leaving Britain less safe at a time of growing international danger.

In a sharply worded resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Healey said he could no longer support the Government’s Defence Investment Plan, arguing that the financial settlement failed to provide the Armed Forces with the resources needed to meet the threats facing the UK.

His departure is one of the most serious resignations of Sir Keir’s premiership and comes ahead of the expected publication of the long-delayed defence plan, which is intended to set out how Britain will rebuild military capability, improve readiness and respond to growing threats from Russia, instability in the Middle East, and wider global insecurity.

The row centres on the pace and scale of defence spending. Sir Keir has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% by 2034, but Mr Healey had pushed for a faster rise, arguing that the pressure on the Armed Forces is immediate and cannot be pushed into the next decade.

The former Defence Secretary is understood to have wanted a stronger commitment to reach 3% by 2030, amid warnings that the Army, Navy and RAF face major gaps in equipment, personnel and readiness.

In his letter, Mr Healey criticised both Number 10 and the Treasury, saying the Prime Minister had been unable, and the Treasury unwilling, to provide the funding needed. He warned that the proposed settlement would force unacceptable choices, including risks to operational readiness and the safety of service personnel.

A resignation with real force

Cabinet resignations are not unusual in Westminster, but this one is different.

Mr Healey was not regarded as a loose cannon or serial rebel. He was seen as a loyal, experienced and serious figure, closely associated with Labour’s attempt to present itself as a responsible party of government on defence and national security.

That is why his resignation is so damaging.

He is not leaving over a personal scandal, a reshuffle grievance, or a minor policy disagreement. He is leaving while accusing the Government of failing to fund the defence of the country properly.

For any Prime Minister, that is a dangerous charge. For Sir Keir Starmer, who has repeatedly sought to present Labour as strong on national security, it is politically explosive.

The timing is also significant. Britain is preparing for a NATO summit next month, Ukraine remains at war with Russia, tensions in the Middle East remain high, and European countries are under growing pressure to take more responsibility for their own defence as US priorities shift.

Mr Healey’s resignation turns what had been a technical dispute between departments into a full political crisis.

The Treasury problem

At the heart of the row is a familiar Whitehall battle: the Ministry of Defence says the threats are growing and the money must follow; the Treasury says the public finances are already under severe pressure.

Rachel Reeves faces demands from every direction. The NHS, schools, local government, welfare, transport and energy all want more money. Defence is now making the same argument, but with one added warning: delay could have consequences not only for public services, but for national security.

That makes the politics difficult. Spending more on defence means either higher taxes, more borrowing, or cuts elsewhere.

But Mr Healey’s argument is that Britain no longer has the luxury of treating defence as something that can be fixed later. His central message is that the threat is now, but the money is being pushed too far into the future.

That “backloading” of funds is likely to become one of the key phrases in the argument. In simple terms, it means promising more money later while leaving the Armed Forces short in the immediate years ahead.

Why the military will be watching closely

The resignation also raises deeper questions about military confidence in the Government’s plans.

Reports that senior military figures have raised concerns about the funding settlement will add to the pressure on Downing Street. If service chiefs believe the money does not match the commitments being made, the issue becomes more than a political row. It becomes a question of whether ministers are asking the Armed Forces to do more than they are properly equipped to deliver.

The UK already has major defence pressures. The Army has shrunk significantly over recent decades. The Royal Navy faces demands across the Atlantic, the High North, the Gulf and Indo-Pacific. The RAF must maintain air defence, support NATO and contribute to operations overseas. Meanwhile, stockpiles, drones, air defence systems, cyber capability and industrial production have all become more urgent because of the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine has shown that modern war burns through equipment, ammunition and technology at a frightening rate. It has also shown that countries which enter a crisis with hollowed-out forces quickly discover that rebuilding military strength cannot be done overnight.

That is the deeper warning behind Mr Healey’s resignation.

Political reaction

The Conservatives are expected to seize on the resignation as proof that Labour cannot be trusted on defence. They will argue that if the Defence Secretary himself believes the Government is underfunding the military, the Prime Minister has a serious credibility problem.

Reform UK is also likely to attack Sir Keir from the right, claiming the Government is failing to protect the country while spending money on other priorities.

The Liberal Democrats may press for clarity on whether the Government’s commitments to NATO, Ukraine and UK defence can still be met.

Within Labour, the reaction may be more complicated. Some MPs will sympathise with Mr Healey’s warning, particularly those concerned about Russia and NATO. Others will worry that increasing defence spending faster could mean less money for public services and social programmes.

That internal tension could become difficult for Sir Keir. Labour came to power promising stability, competence and discipline. A Defence Secretary resigning over national security funding cuts directly against that image.

What Downing Street will say

The Prime Minister is likely to insist that the Government remains committed to the strongest possible defence of the UK and to meeting its spending targets.

Downing Street will argue that defence spending is rising, that the Government has already made major commitments, and that any plan must be financially credible.

It will also stress continued support for Ukraine and Britain’s role in NATO.

But that may not be enough to kill the story.

The problem for Sir Keir is that Mr Healey’s resignation letter gives the opposition a simple line of attack: if the Government’s own Defence Secretary says the plan is not good enough, why should the public believe it is?

What happens next

Sir Keir will now need to appoint a new Defence Secretary quickly. The replacement will face an immediate and difficult task: defend a Defence Investment Plan that helped drive out their predecessor.

That is not an easy starting point.

The new minister will have to reassure the Armed Forces, the defence industry, NATO allies and MPs that Britain’s defence plans remain credible.

They will also have to answer a blunt question: has the Government matched its military promises with the money required to deliver them?

This resignation will not disappear quickly. It goes to the centre of one of the biggest questions facing the UK: whether the country is prepared for the world it now lives in, rather than the safer world it wishes still existed.

For Sir Keir Starmer, the danger is clear. A Prime Minister can survive many rows over spending. But when a Defence Secretary resigns saying the country is being left less safe, the argument becomes far more serious.

Ministry of Defence

Campaigners target £50m Welsh drone expansion after Aberporth protest

Published

1 week ago

June 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ANTI-ARMS campaigners have accused the UK and Welsh Governments of turning west Wales into a centre for military drone development following protests in Cardigan and Aberporth.

West Wales Against Arms said its members took part in the Red Line for Palestine action in Cardigan on Saturday (May 23), before staging a vigil outside MOD Aberporth on Sunday (May 24).

The group says the demonstrations were aimed at drawing attention to the role of defence companies QinetiQ and Tekever in the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicle technology in west Wales.

The protest comes after the announcement of a £50m Wales Defence Growth Deal, which ministers say will support high-skilled jobs and strengthen Wales’ role in autonomous technology.

Campaigners, however, argue that public money should be spent on health, housing and public services rather than expanding military testing and drone development.

A spokesperson for West Wales Against Arms said: “From Cardigan’s march on Saturday to Aberporth’s vigil on Sunday, the message was the same. We see what is happening. We see who is enabling it. And we refuse to be quiet.

“This is not what we want for West Wales or for any part of the UK. It will leave less investment into health and housing and keep Wales complicit in the arms trade and the genocide in Palestine and the ongoing war in the Middle East.”

MOD Aberporth, near Cardigan Bay, has long been used for the testing of weapons systems and unmanned aerial systems.

QinetiQ operates at the site, while Tekever owns West Wales Airport. The two companies have previously announced plans to work together on developing uncrewed systems capability in the UK.

The UK Government has said the Wales Defence Growth Deal will help Welsh communities benefit from high-skilled roles, support small and medium-sized businesses, and improve access to defence contracts.

But campaigners say the deal raises serious ethical questions about the direction of public investment in Wales, particularly while the conflict in Gaza continues.

West Wales Against Arms has also published a pamphlet, Exposing the War Machine in Aberporth, setting out its claims about the defence industry in the area.

Community

DARC radar: Campaigners ask Welsh Government to call in planning application

Published

4 weeks ago

May 15, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PARC AGAINST DARC has submitted an official request asking the new Welsh Government to call in the planning application for the proposed DARC radar array in Pembrokeshire.

The campaign group, which was set up in 2024 to oppose the US military-linked Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability project, says the decision is too significant to be left to Pembrokeshire County Council alone.

Campaigners say the development, proposed for Cawdor Barracks near Brawdy, would have national implications for Wales, the environment, tourism, the local economy and military strategy.

The request follows the appointment of Rhun ap Iorwerth as Wales’ new First Minister and the naming of Siân Gwenllian as Cabinet Secretary for Local Government, Housing and Planning.

PARC said the election of a Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government marked “an extremely promising step forward” for the campaign, citing Plaid’s previous opposition to the scheme.

Planning decision

The Ministry of Defence submitted the planning application for the radar array to Pembrokeshire County Council in April.

The application is currently open for public comments, with the publicity period running until Wednesday (May 20).

The DARC project would involve the construction of 27 radar dishes close to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Campaigners have described the proposal as a “military monstrosity” and claim it would allow the United States to project military power into space from Welsh soil.

They also dispute claims that the scheme would bring major local employment benefits, saying the MOD’s own environmental information describes the number of jobs as “low” and “not significant”.

PARC argues that any limited job creation would be outweighed by the removal of hundreds of personnel from Cawdor Barracks.

‘Call it in’

The campaign says the Welsh Government should take over the decision because of the scale and significance of the proposal.

In its request, PARC argues that DARC is “clearly a nationally significant development” and should be considered in the wider context of Wales’ national priorities.

The group is urging members of the public to use its online tool to ask Welsh ministers to call in the application.

PARC said: “We are thrilled that Plaid Cymru, an anti-DARC government, has taken the reins in Cardiff.

“The election of the new Welsh Government is a huge and seismic development from our perspective.

“Today, as we submit our official call-in request to the newly formed Welsh administration, we know that as we fight to save our precious St Davids peninsula from being turned into a massive military target, we do so in the knowledge that the party in control of Wales has a proud and strong history of standing up for the people of Wales and standing for peace.”

Public opposition

PARC says public opposition remains overwhelming.

The campaign claims that an updated MOD consultation summary shows 498 public responses were received, with 401 using PARC’s template objection email and the remaining summarised comments also appearing to oppose the scheme.

The group says it is preparing a 150,000-word planning objection, covering visual, economic, military, strategic and consultation concerns.

Campaigners also point to protests, widespread media coverage and a petition with around 19,000 signatures opposing the project.

Plaid Cymru figures have previously spoken against DARC.

In April 2024, Cefin Campbell tabled a statement of opinion in the Senedd opposing the proposal, while Plaid Westminster leader Liz Saville-Roberts later submitted an Early Day Motion at Westminster.

Mr Campbell said at the time: “Plaid Cymru has a long and honourable history of promoting peace around the globe and opposing militarism at every level.

“We cannot therefore support the construction of DARC and give space to American militarism on our land.”

PARC said the campaign was “still far from won” but had taken “a huge step change in the right direction” following the election result.

Ministry of Defence

Official application lodged for controversial Pembrokeshire space radar scheme

Published

1 month ago

April 30, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

THE MOD has submitted a formal planning application for the controversial DARC space radar scheme at Cawdor Barracks near Brawdy.

The Ministry of Defence wants to install 27 radar antennas and associated infrastructure at the former RAF site as part of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability, known as DARC.

The project would form part of a global network of sensors across the UK, USA and Australia under the AUKUS defence partnership.

The system is designed to track satellites, space debris and other objects in orbit, providing 360-degree coverage of the sky in all weather conditions and at all times of day.

Cawdor Barracks was named as the preferred UK site in late 2023 by the then Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

A supporting statement submitted with the application says the scheme would improve the UK’s ability to detect, identify and track objects in Earth orbit.

It states: “This capability is critical to protect and defend the services provided by satellites, ensuring continuity and resilience against collisions or debris-related incidents.”

The document also says the loss of GPS services alone could cost the UK an estimated £1.422 billion per day.

The application says the scheme would create around 90 full-time equivalent construction jobs and 60 full-time equivalent operational jobs, including maintenance and security roles.

The MoD says the project would help protect critical national infrastructure in orbit and provide data to UK Government departments, the Met Office and the UK Space Agency.

However, the plans remain controversial locally.

St Davids City Council recently voted unanimously to oppose the pre-application consultation proposals.

Objectors have raised concerns about the impact of the development, with protests taking place outside Cawdor Barracks and County Hall in Haverfordwest.

Labour Senedd candidate Eluned Morgan has also called for the scheme to be put on hold while Donald Trump is President of the United States.

Pembrokeshire County Council will now consider the application.