'Zombie' Keir Starmer's authority ripped to shreds after defence ministers quit in fury

Sir Keir Starmer's authority was left in tatters last night after the shock resignation of his Defence Secretary and Armed Forces Minister over a lack of defence funding.

The former, John Healey, suggested Sir Keir had been "unable" to overrule Rachel Reeves and secure vital cash for Britain's forces under the Defence Investment Plan (Dip) - which still hasn't been released.

Lord Dannatt, the former head of the Army, demanded that either Sir Keir or Ms Reeves quit altogether, while former Navy head Lord West told The Telegraph: "The Treasury has won in their fight, and Britain is in more danger because of it."

"This just makes the end more certain," one minister told The Guardian.

Finger-pointing then broke out around the Cabinet table, with allies of the Prime Minister and Chancellor blaming each other for leaving the Armed Forces high and dry.

One Government source claimed the Chancellor "didn't put in the work" to fund defence, while Treasury sources briefed that she had prioritised defence in a "record" budget increase last year.

Another Treasury insider claimed Mr Healey had been asking for "cuts to schools and hospitals" to fund the Forces - sparking outrage given looming war threats around the world.

Reform UK's Danny Kruger branded Sir Keir a "zombie", while veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer said he was now a "dead Prime Minister walking".

"He didn't have a future before and he certainly hasn't got one now," Mr Stringer said. "He will be remembered as an unpatriotic prime minister who did not take the decisions necessary to make this country’s military personnel safe."

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Chief of the Defence Staff issues rallying cry to Armed Forces amid MoD disarray

The Chief of the Defence Staff has issued a rallying cry to Armed Forces members after the Ministry of Defence was plunged into chaos by yesterday's double resignation.

A leaked internal memo sent from Sir Richard Knighton has called on serving Britons to "remain apolitical and are not drawn into speculation" over "decisions that are for ministers".

"In uncertain times, it is more important than ever that we stay focused on our duty to defend the UK and its interests across the world without fear or favour," the Air Chief Marshal said, according to Sky News.

"The work our armed forces do matters, and it matters more than it has done for many years."

"You should be rightly proud of the role you play in keeping us safe," he concluded.

Sir Richard had written to Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week after a top-level defence meeting on Monday.

That was later revealed to have been the day when John Healey was told what the offer was for further defence funding - over which he would later resign.

RECAP: Keir Starmer acts swiftly to appoint new Defence Secretary after shock John Healey resignation

Sir Keir Starmer swiftly appointed a new Defence Secretary after John Healey's shock resignation yesterday.

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister had handed ex-Security Minister Dan Jarvis the top job on Thursday evening.

He was catapulted into the role less than an hour after Armed Forces minister Al Carns quit from Government.

Mr Healey and Mr Carns were followed out of the door by parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) Pamela Nash and Rachel Hopkins, putting an end to a day of bruising resignations in the Ministry of Defence...

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