Healey quits as defence secretary in row over military spending

John Healey has quit as defence secretary over a dispute about military spending, stating that the proposed settlement for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) falls well short of what is needed. He criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for being unable and the Treasury unwilling to commit sufficient resources. Starmer defended the plan as an unprecedented increase in defence spending in a sustainable and fair way. The resignation, the second from Starmer's cabinet in weeks, weakens his position ahead of a key by-election where Labour's Andy Burnham is standing.