UK Prime Minister Starmer fights for political survival after defence ministers resign
British PM Keir Starmer faces a political crisis after his defence secretary and defence minister resigned, citing insufficient military spending and failure to address Russian threats.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is once again fighting for his political survival, on the back foot after his defence secretary and defence minister quit the government over complaints of a lack of military spending and sufficient commitment to keep Britain safe from the spectre of Russian attack.
Their resignation letters were excoriating. John Healey, a party loyalist who served under five Labour leaders, wrote that the UK Defence plan fell well short of what is required for the defence of the realm at this dangerous time, that the prime minister was unable to commit the resources needed, and the Treasury was unwilling. He said this after first seeing the detailed defence plan on Monday, which has yet to be made public.
Departing Defence Minister Al Cairns said: “Britain is still purchasing a capability suitable for the last war, while our adversaries arm for the next one” and that “platforms that cost billions can be defeated by systems that cost thousands.”
Starmer is suffering the political equivalent of “rope-a-dope” week: first a revolt over welfare reform, then the consequences of appointing Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, and a leadership contest expected to start in days. He has defended his decision on defence spending, saying he’s had to make “hard-edged decisions.”
Former Conservative MP and military officer James Sunderland, who served 26 years in the British army deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Bosnia and the Falklands, joined the discussion on the programme.
