John Healey resigns from government over defence spending plan

His shock resignation comes amid mounting tensions within the Cabinet over the publication of the long-delayed investment plan, which will set out how new equipment and defence infrastructure will be funded over the coming decade after a review of Britain’s capabilities in June last year.

In his resignation letter to the prime minister, the defence secretary said: “This era for defence required further investment through the defence investment plan.

“The excellent and extensive cross-government work that was completed in January – overseen by you, me and the chancellor – confirmed the scale of the challenge and the rising demands on defence.

“Since then, you have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.”

“The extra support is backloaded when the pressure of operations and imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years, and it rises to just 2.68 per cent of GDP in 2030, when we will reach 2.6 per cent next year with the investment we are already making.”

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Picture at top of page is Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Faslane on board a nuclear submarine with now resigned Defence Minister John Healey.

Justice & Peace Scotland, No to Nuclear Weapons, A Christian Ecumenical Peace Gathering, Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Faslane Naval Base on Sat 2nd Aug 2025. Led by Archbishop William Nolan, Moderator Right Rev Rosemary Frew and Primus Most Rev Mark Strange. Photo by and copyright of Paul McSherry 07770 393960 paulmcsherry2020@gmail.com @Paulmcsherry2

HMS PENZANCE DEPARTS FASLANE FOR THE FINAL TIME Pictured: HMS Penzance Commanding Officer addressing the ships company Today, 09 Jan 2024, HMS Penzance held a ceremony alongside HMNB Clyde to commemorate the ship sailing from the submarine base for the final time, prior to her formal decommissioning in Rosyth. *** Local Caption ***

HMS AUDACIOUS ARRIVES AT CLYDE HOME HMS Audacious, the fourth of the Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines, has arrived at her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde. The new submarine and her 98-strong crew arrived at the Naval Base in Argyll and Bute today (April 7), flying the White Ensign after sailing from BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness. Welcoming the vessel to her new home were members of the Submarine Flotilla – SUBFLOT – based at Clyde. “It is with great excitement that we welcome HMS Audacious to the Clyde, joining her three sister submarines,” said Commodore Jim Perks OBE, Head of the Submarine Service. “HMS Audacious represents an ever improving example of the world-leading Astute class submarine. She is right at the cutting-edge of technology, built here in the UK by our own people. She will provide the country with remarkable security at sea to protect our nation’s interests.” HMS Audacious will join sister-submarines HMS Astute, HMS Ambush and HMS Artful which are already in-service and operating from Faslane. A further three boats – named Anson, Agamemnon and Agincourt – are currently under construction at BAE in Barrow. The Astute-class vessels are among the most sophisticated submarines ever constructed for the RoyalNavy.

HMS Grimsby, LNS Skalvis and FGS Elbe alongside Faslane as part of Exercise Joint Warrior.

HMS BLYTH RETURNS TO HM NAVAL BASE CLYDE JUST IN TIME FOR EASTERCLYDE-based Royal Navy minehunter, HMS Blyth, returned home today (Friday, April 2) after completing two months of NATO duties in the Baltic. The Faslane-based warship has spent the late winter/early spring attached to NATO’s dedicated mine warfare force patrolling northern European waters, Standing Group 1, carrying out combined training, dealing with wartime ordnance still blighting the Baltic, and generally flying the flag for the alliance. During her two months with the NATO group, Blyth has sailed more than 4,000 miles, taken part in four multinational exercises, visited the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Sweden and conducted training in Danish Waters.

Image Left to Right :Captain Nick Gibbons, Captain Irvine Lindsay and Lt Cdr Peter Ellison The ship and Mine Counter Measures 1(MCM1) Crew 2 were welcomed back to the Naval Base by Captain of the Base, Captain Nick Gibbons and Captain Submarines, Captain Irvine Lindsay. HMS BLYTH RETURNS TO HM NAVAL BASE CLYDE JUST IN TIME FOR EASTERCLYDE-based Royal Navy minehunter, HMS Blyth, returned home today (Friday, April 2) after completing two months of NATO duties in the Baltic. The Faslane-based warship has spent the late winter/early spring attached to NATO’s dedicated mine warfare force patrolling northern European waters, Standing Group 1, carrying out combined training, dealing with wartime ordnance still blighting the Baltic, and generally flying the flag for the alliance. During her two months with the NATO group, Blyth has sailed more than 4,000 miles, taken part in four multinational exercises, visited the Netherlands, Norway, Germany and Sweden and conducted training in Danish Waters.

HMS Victorious, one of the Royal Navy’s four strategic missile submarines, departs her home port at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane in Scotland today (13 January 2005) for her major refit which will take place at Devonport, Plymouth. Victorious and her sister submarines provide the UK’s national deterrent and can carry up to 16 Trident nuclear missiles.