𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Keir Starmer has been blasted by his own former Defence Secretary for leaving the country’s armed forces underfunded despite rising worldwide threats. In a devastating resignation speech, the John Healey told parliament that there was no deadline by which the country would meet its spending targets.

Supporters of higher spending say 3 per cent of GDP should be spent on defence by 2030, in line with the targets established by over half of Nato members. But Mr Healey warned there was “no date” for reaching the goal as he cautioned that Britain’s enemies “do not follow timetables set by the Treasury”.

In a speech that tore into his own party’s record on defence he added: “At this dangerous time, I see the current defence investment plans falling well short of what is required, a rise at 0.08% from next year to 2030, no date for reaching 3%, no path to 3.5%.”

Mr Healey said that Britain’s allies across the world “are looking for British leadership” and warned the country “must not fall behind”.

He defended his decision to step down from the post, saying it had been “necessary in securing the future of Britain’s armed forces.”

Yet despite his quitting there has been no indication from the Government that the armed forces will be granted additional funding.

Another former defence minster, Al Carns, who also resigned over the funding disagreement, warned that the country was not prepared for future conflicts.

He said: “I no longer believe the defence investment plan was prepared for the wars we are most likely to fight.

“The character of warfare is changing at an exceptional speed. In Ukraine a navy without a ship has destroyed a navy. A drone costing thousands can destroy a tank costing millions. A drone can now strike 2,000km into Russia, a fraction of the cost of fighter jets.”

Later in his speech Mr Carns, a veteran, gave the impassioned plea to MPs that “national security and economic security are not competing priorities, they are the same priority.”

Sir Keir, who is meeting G7 allies in France, defended his plan and said that “£270 billion will be spent this Parliament on defence.”

He added that the plan would give the country “capability for the future” but warned that this “required difficult decisions” and reallocation of money from other parts of government.