UK politics live: Starmer ‘not listening’ says Al Carns as he follows Healy to resign over defe

Sir Keir Starmer's government is in crisis after Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns resigned over a defence spending row. Healey quit, saying the defence investment plan "falls well short of what is required" to defend the country. This move has heaped pressure on the prime minister, who is already facing a leadership challenge. The resignations came as a shock, with Healey being a highly respected and loyal member of the Labour party.

The defence investment plan, which will set out how new equipment and defence infrastructure will be funded in the next decade, has been a point of contention within the cabinet. Healey warned that the plan "falls well short of what is required" and accused the prime minister and the chancellor of being "unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats".

Al Carns, who also resigned, wrote on social media that the defence investment plan was "neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded". He added that "Number 10 will not listen, so I am resigning". The resignations of Healey and Carns have been followed by the resignation of two parliamentary aides, Pamela Nash and Rachel Hopkins.

The crisis has led to the appointment of Dan Jarvis as the new Defence Secretary. Jarvis, a former Parachute Regiment officer, was appointed late on Thursday. Sir Keir Starmer said he was pleased to make the appointment, as the government works to "meet the growing threats facing our country".

The implications of the crisis are far-reaching, with many questioning the prime minister's ability to lead the country. The defence spending row has exposed deep divisions within the cabinet, and the resignations of Healey and Carns have added to the pressure on Starmer. The prime minister is already facing a leadership challenge, and the latest developments are likely to embolden his critics.

The defence investment plan has been a point of contention for some time, with many arguing that it does not provide sufficient funding for the armed forces. The plan, which will set out how new equipment and defence infrastructure will be funded in the next decade, has been delayed several times, adding to the frustration within the cabinet.

The resignations of Healey and Carns have also raised questions about the prime minister's relationship with his ministers. Healey, who is a highly respected and loyal member of the Labour party, had been a key ally of the prime minister. His resignation is a significant blow to Starmer, and raises questions about the prime minister's ability to work with his ministers.

As the crisis deepens, the prime minister is facing growing pressure to resign. The defence spending row has exposed deep divisions within the cabinet, and the resignations of Healey and Carns have added to the pressure on Starmer. The appointment of Dan Jarvis as the new Defence Secretary is seen as an attempt to stabilize the government, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to save the prime minister's premiership.

In the coming days, the prime minister will face intense scrutiny over his handling of the defence spending row. The resignations of Healey and Carns have raised questions about the prime minister's ability to lead the country, and the implications of the crisis are far-reaching. As the government struggles to respond to the growing threats facing the country, the prime minister's leadership is under intense scrutiny.

The crisis has also raised questions about the future of the Labour party. The resignations of Healey and Carns have added to the pressure on Starmer, and the party is facing a growing divide between those who support the prime minister and those who are calling for his resignation. As the party struggles to respond to the crisis, the future of the Labour party remains uncertain.

In conclusion, the crisis facing the government is a significant blow to the prime minister's premiership. The resignations of Healey and Carns have exposed deep divisions within the cabinet, and the implications of the crisis are far-reaching. As the government struggles to respond to the growing threats facing the country, the prime minister's leadership is under intense scrutiny. The future of the Labour party remains uncertain, and the coming days will be crucial in determining the outcome of the crisis.