Changes to UK defence plan ‘will not include more funding’

Changes to the government’s defence investment plan (DIP) after John Healey’s resignation will not include more funding, it is understood.

The government has been under pressure to look again at the plan after the former defence secretary quit, accusing Sir Keir Starmer and the chancellor of being “unwilling” to provide sufficient funding for the armed forces.

New defence secretary Dan Jarvis is yet to finalise the plan, which could include changes to the mix of measures in the plan, rather than the overall figure of funding, it is understood.

It comes after cabinet minister Lisa Nandy sidestepped questions on whether more money would be offered to Mr Jarvis on Sunday, but said she did not believe Mr Jarvis “would have taken the job were he not confident that we could meet the moment”.

No 10 sources also suggested the defence investment plan has been reopened in the wake of Mr Jarvis’s appointment, telling The Independent: “You’d obviously expect him to have a chance to look at the Dip, and consider issues such as whether Healey had the right balance on how money [is] spent.”

Sir Keir’s premiership was plunged into crisis once again after his defence secretary Mr Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns dramatically resigned on Thursday, accusing the prime minister of failing to properly fund the armed forces and keep Britain safe.

Downing Street has said the DIP is still being finalised with Mr Jarvis, a former soldier, who has urged the government to “meet the moment” on the defence issue.

Sir Keir hit back at criticism last week, insisting defence spending was a priority and that he had taken the “difficult decisions” necessary to keep the country safe.

Mr Healey’s dramatic exit heaped further pressure on Sir Keir’s already strained position in No 10, after he was almost ousted following last month’s disastrous local elections.

Andy Burnham hopes to return to Westminster in next week’s Makerfield by-election and has made no secret of his Labour leadership ambitions, while former health secretary Wes Streeting has also said he would run in any contest.

Mr Burnham has already said he would not be “squeamish” about reducing the welfare bill to fund defence spending.

The Greater Manchester mayor said “the world has changed” and it was “obvious” the government would have to adjust its assumptions about defence spending in response.