Al Carns Resigns As Defence Minister After Healeys Exit Over Military Funding

Sir Keir Starmer has suffered another hammer blow to his authority as the armed forces minister followed John Healey in leaving the Government over a dispute about long-term funding for the military.

Al Carns quit as a defence minister on Thursday evening, writing to the Prime Minister to tell him he could not defend “a level of investment I know to be inadequate to the task”.

Mr Healey had earlier resigned as defence secretary claiming Sir Keir had been “unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling”, to provide adequate funding for the defence investment plan (Dip).

Dan Jarvis, a former Parachute Regiment officer, was appointed Mr Healey’s successor late on Thursday.

The Dip, a blueprint for investing more in the military over a sustained period, was originally called for by the strategic defence review almost exactly a year ago and has been long delayed by wrangling over funding.

Published: 11/06/2026 by Radio NewsHub