UK Defence Secretary Healey Resigns Over Spending Plans
John Healey quit as UK defence secretary on Thursday. He said the government was not spending enough on defence.
Healey said Prime Minister Starmer could not commit the resources needed to defend the country. He said this was especially worrying given rising threats.
Healey had pushed for defence spending to reach 3% of the country's total economy by 2030. This would match what other European allies spend.
But Starmer and Chancellor Reeves declined that target. A defence investment plan was agreed on Monday.
Healey said the plan falls way short of what is needed. The plan was due to be published very soon after he quit.
Klear Note — NATO members aim to spend 2% of GDP on defence. Most European allies spend 2-3%. Higher spending funds military equipment, personnel, and readiness.
Key Terms 4
- defence secretary The minister in charge of a country's military and armed forces
- Chancellor Reeves UK's finance minister who controls government spending
- GDP The total value of everything a country produces in a year
- defence investment plan A government plan setting out how much to spend on the military