Why defence secretary quitting is a huge red flag

The decision by the loyal defence secretary to quit with a blistering attack at the Prime Minister is the very definition of a political bombshell for Number 10. It should not be dismissed as politics. It goes to the heart of the most important role of government – to keep us all safe.

In a letter to Sir Keir, Mr Healey said the Prime Minister had been “unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats”.

He added that without a Defence Investment Plan that “meets the moment” he was “forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make our country less safe”.

Let’s put aide the political problem this causes Sir Keir Starmer, who is already on borrowed time in Number 10. The bigger issue – and bigger worry for us all – is the implication that the UK will be less safe because we are not spending what we need on defence.

There have been enough warnings. The threat is obvious, and the world is more unsafe than ever.

Failing to invest properly now in our defence is not an option. In truth, it should have happened so much longer ago.

Earlier this year, former Nato chief Lord Robertson warned of a “corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership”.

“Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger — but even a promised national conversation about defence can’t be started.”

And starkly, he said: “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe… Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

The warning appears to have gone unheeded. We can only hope that Mr Healey’s move is treated with the seriousness that it deserves, if not by this Prime Minister then by the next.

Quitting was not a John Healey thing to do. The red flag that it has raised cannot be ignored.