BRITISH Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday, in a shock move which he blamed on Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the finance ministry failing to commit sufficient resources to defence investment.
His announcement is a fresh blow to Starmer and comes at a politically charged moment for the embattled Labour leader, a week before a by-election which could prompt a bid to topple and replace him.
Healey’s sudden departure comes after months of delays to a long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (DIP) for funding over the next decade, which he has said would fall far short of what had been requested. — AFP