politics
UK defence ministers resign over spending dispute ahead of G7 summit
Two UK defence ministers resigned last Thursday, citing concerns over long-term military funding. The departures come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends the G7 meeting in France amid discussions on international security commitments.
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Two UK defence ministers resigned last Thursday, citing disagreements over long-term military spending levels. Defence minister John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns both stepped down on the same day. Al Carns told the Guardian in an interview that the Ministry of Defence suffers from "unbelievable" waste and recommended scrapping certain programmes, including tank investments, in favour of newer technology.
Spending targets and commitments The UK government has committed to raising defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 to meet NATO targets. Current plans call for a more modest increase to 2.6% by 2027. Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed support for Ukraine and Britain's role in Middle East conflicts during the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, which began yesterday.
Political consequences The resignations reduce the number of ministers available to Starmer ahead of the Makerfield byelection this week. Andy Burnham is expected to return to Parliament if he wins that contest. Public opinion remains split on whether defence spending should increase, according to recent Ipsos polling.
British voters have shown caution about potential tax increases needed to fund higher spending.
