DEFENCE MINISTER QUITS OVER UNDERFUNDED MILITARY PLANS

Al Carns resigned as defence minister on Thursday night, hours after John Healey departed from the same role. Carns cited insufficient funding for the Defence Investment Plan and disagreement with spending priorities as reasons for his departure. He stated the government was planning to spend money on outdated weapons systems rather than modern capabilities. Carns indicated he would consider running for Labour leadership if a contest materialised.

The Defence Investment Plan has been subject to months of internal government dispute over funding levels. The Ministry of Defence requested £18bn over four years, whilst the Treasury allocated only £13.5bn, of which £10bn represented new spending. Healey's resignation letter criticised the government's inability to commit adequate resources for national defence during a period of heightened geopolitical threats. Carns told the BBC's Today programme the plan represented "how to fight the last war rather than the next one" and called for difficult decisions to retire legacy systems ordered by the previous Conservative government.

The resignations represent a significant setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a period marked by international security concerns. Healey's departure as a previously loyal cabinet member undermines the Prime Minister's positioning on defence and foreign policy. The dispute over defence funding remains unresolved within government. The controversy follows weeks of internal wrangling over the strategic direction and financial commitment to military capability.