𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

This is a damning, ruthless, catastrophic — insert whatever adjective you want — assessment of this Labour government and its record on defence. Mr Healey told Sir Keir he was left with “no other option” but to quit over the chronically delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP) which he said “falls short of what is required”. This is deeply embarrassing for Sir Keir and perhaps may just be the final nail in the coffin for his turbulent premiership which is now seemingly going from bad to worse.

Mr Healey is a savvy operator who gets defence and its challenges.

He’s been a Labour MP since 1997 and before heading the Ministry of Defence, was Shadow Defence Secretary for a number of years and previously held ministerial positions.

He knows his stuff and one source told me that despite the fury over the repeated DIP delays, he was also well-liked within industry.

The phrase ‘one hand tied behind your back’ comes to mind, and judging by Mr Healey, it’s clear where this could stem from.

He is clearly outraged over the amount of money being offered to defence by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the Treasury.

In the letter, Mr Healey said he only received DIP financial settlement in full for the first time on Monday afternoon.

Reports suggest the offer only included an extra £10 billion for the defence — billions below the actual £28 billion black hole in the budget over the next four years.

This is shockingly short of what’s required and it’s totally understandable why Mr Healey would be so frustrated as threats and tensions rise to levels we have not seen in decades.

This is clear for all to see and Mr Healey made this very point in his resignation letter.

Addressing the PM, he said: “You spelled out the threats last week: ‘it is our intelligence assessment, and the assessment of other countries in Nato, that there could be an attack by Russia on Nato as soon as 2030.’

“You know what defence needs. You made the argument for this powerfully in your speech at the Munich Security Conference back in February.”

He added: “Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.”

The Prime Minister has lost one of his party’s most experienced and loyal politicians.

It remains to be seen whether this gut punch is the knockout blow for Sir Keir’s premiership, but one thing is for sure; he is on the ropes.