Defence secretary quits: is this the end for Starmer? – The Latest
Defence secretary quits: is this the end for Starmer? – The Latest  
Podcast: Today in Focus
Published On: Thu Jun 11 2026
Description: John Healey has resigned as defence secretary over the government’s military spending plans, in another significant blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan “falls well short of what is required for defence” and that he would have had to take decisions that “could make Britain less safe”. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian’s policy editor, Kiran Stacey Healey quits in row with Starmer over military spending. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus