‘My first duty, the duty above everything else, is to keep our country safe, and to keep our people safe.’
Those are the words of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, on a visit to a weapons factory in Swindon just six days ago.
It wasn’t the first time he used those words. In fact, he’s delivered that same sentiment in the past when talking about the Chagos Islands; the strategic defence review; Reform’s alleged links with Russia; VE Day; and countless other events.
All of it served to hammer home one message: if I’m not doing all I can to protect the UK, then I’m failing at the most fundamental element of my job.
That is what makes the resignation letter of the now former Defence Secretary John Healey so profoundly damaging to the PM.
In it, Healey writes that the as-yet-unpublished Defence Investment Plan (DIP) ‘falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time’.
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‘Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way,’ Healey says, ‘I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.’
The Prime Minister’s approach could make the country less safe.
In the aftermath of the local elections last month, a number of ministers resigned from the government with attacks on Starmer’s attitude and leadership skills.
It must have hurt, and it certainly dealt a nasty blow to the PM’s authority. But it was, evidently, survivable. There was always the argument that, no matter the troubles at No 10, it wasn’t worth the chaos of changing leader.
Healey’s letter targets something much more basic – Starmer’s ability to take the decisions that would keep the UK out of harm’s way.
It accuses the Prime Minister of being ‘unable’ and the Treasury of being ‘unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats’.
These lines from the ex-Defence Secretary would suggest he thinks a change of leader is a matter of national security. That is extraordinary.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Starmer fully recovers from such an accusation, coming from someone with the status of John Healey.
The reaction to his resignation demonstrates just how much colleagues of all stripes like him.
Even Nigel Farage’s right-hand man Richard Tice said he was ‘widely respected’, and the Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: ‘An honourable man has done an honourable thing.’
He has reportedly ruled out a run for the Labour leadership, making it hard to paint his decision as self-serving (unlike a certain other recent Cabinet resignation).
But perhaps he can be convinced otherwise, if he believes Andy Burnham doesn’t have what it takes.
Because when that near-inevitable contest takes place, there’s one man who is far less likely to participate than it might have seemed yesterday – thanks to John Healey, it’s the current inhabitant of 10 Downing Street.
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