Defence Secretary Says Labour Credibility at Stake Over Internal Focus

The defence secretary said the credibility of Labour in government is at stake in a speech that criticized party leadership rivals for focusing on photo opportunities and public relations. John Healey said politics was not about the individual and that people will not forgive the party if they think it is more concerned about itself than about them.

His remarks at the Good Growth Foundation in central London appeared to target figures planning to challenge the party leader.

Healey announced that 13 British businesses had been awarded contracts of up to £4 million to work with the Ministry of Defence to boost rapid procurement and deliver technology for the armed forces. The scheme rewarded small, innovative companies with limited prior business with the ministry.

He also said the long-awaited defence investment plan was coming soon. The party leader is expected to approve an extra £18 billion for defence this week.

Healey took aim at other parties, saying they would not have taken measures such as designating unions as part of the country's defence industrial base. He said no other party proposed this, naming Reform and the Greens as examples. He later said that he would be campaigning for the Greater Manchester mayor in the by-election.

He insisted there was no leadership contest and added that a junior armed forces minister was a great and unique member of the party he wanted in his team.