Doncaster MP "deserves credit" for quitting says city Reform leader

The leader of Reform UK in Doncaster says city MP and Defence Secretary John Healey “deserves credit” for quitting Sir Keir Starmer’s government and said he had “put his beliefs ahead of his ministerial position.”

Mr Healey, who is also MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, stepped down today (Thursday) and blasted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves for failing to find the funds he thinks are needed for the country’s defence.

There has been a wrangle in government as different departments face cuts to pay for defence pledges, and now Mr Healey believes the funding promised is inadequate.

In his resignation letter to the PM, Mr Healey said: “This new era for defence required further investment through the Defence Investment Plan. The excellent and extensive cross-government work that completed in January – overseen by you, me and the Chancellor - confirmed the scale of the challenge and the rising demands on defence.

“Since then, 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.”

Reform UK Doncaster Group Leader, Coun Howard Rimmer, said:“John Healey and I will disagree on many things, but if he has resigned because he genuinely believes the Government is putting Britain’s security at risk, then he deserves credit for standing by his convictions.

“John Healey has at least shown a willingness to put his beliefs ahead of his ministerial position.

“More members of the Government should ask themselves whether they are putting the interests of the country ahead of political loyalty.

“The resignation raises serious questions for the Labour Government.

“If a senior Cabinet Minister believes Britain is being left less secure because the Treasury will not provide the necessary funding, what does that say about the priorities of Keir Starmer’s Government?”

Mr Healey had told the PM that the amount pledged for defence of £10bn is way below the £28bn that experts say is needed over ten years.

Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch said that Mr Healey had acted “honourably” for resigning over the Prime Minister’s stance on defence funding, and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said Mr Healey had “integrity”.

MP Mark Francois said: “An honourable man has just resigned from a collapsing and incompetent government.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Healey’s resignation was a “wake-up call” to the Prime Minister.

But a government source told the BBC: “This country is safer because of the decisions Keir Starmer has made and we will continue to act in our national interest.

“It is this Labour government and this Labour prime minister that is delivering the largest sustained boost to defence spending since the Cold War.

“We cut the international aid budget to make record investment in our armed forces, and now the PM is imposing cuts on other government departments to fund billions more.

“The defence investment plan will deliver the capability our armed forces need. ⁠We will always do what is right, and needed, to keep the country safe.”