Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns have resigned from their government positions, citing a fundamental disagreement with the administration's direction and a loss of confidence in its ability to provide essential support to service personnel and the public. In separate resignation letters addressed to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, both ministers articulated a shared concern over what they describe as a "broken" contract with those who serve the country and a decay in the machinery of government.
Healey and Carns stated that they had put forward necessary changes and identified lines beyond which they could not ethically serve. The letters suggest these proposals were not accepted, leading to an inability to continue arguing their case from within the government. "A serving minister cannot ask fellow veterans to trust a process he no longer trusts himself," Carns wrote in his letter. Both ministers pointed to a dual failure in providing adequate equipment for soldiers and offering loyalty once service is complete, a sentiment echoed by Healey who stated, "We are failing on both."
The ministers also critiqued the broader handling of public confidence and the effectiveness of governmental processes. Carns noted a pervasive sense of insecurity among working people, who, despite contributing and working hard, feel vulnerable to setbacks. He observed that "public confidence in our institutions is weakening, and politics increasingly looks performative while everyday life gets harder." Both letters highlighted a systemic issue where the "machinery of government itself has been left to decay," leading to protracted decision-making and inter-departmental conflict rather than problem-solving.
Healey and Carns advocated for a redefined concept of national resilience, extending beyond military defense to encompass economic security for working people, functional public services, energy resilience, stable communities, and a viable future for young people. They argued that the current approach, using processes designed for a calmer era, is no longer adequate for governing in a more dangerous world, with the consequences becoming apparent in critical areas.
Carns' resignation letter concluded with the hope that his departure might accelerate a transition toward resolution and a "new way of governing." He pledged to continue advocating for a politics grounded in "resilience, seriousness, and national renewal" from the backbenches, focusing on ensuring working people feel secure about the future and that the government upholds its duty to service personnel and veterans. Healey shared this commitment, stating his intention to spend his time on the backbenches working to "fix" the broken deal between the country and those who serve it.