Al Carns tells Starmer to focus on defence spending after Ministry of Defence revolt

12 June 2026 , 09:19

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The Prime Minister must focus on defence spending, former armed forces minister Al Carns told LBC after his resignation along with that of the defence secretary plunged Sir Keir Starmer’s Government into a fresh crisis.

Mr Carns heaped added pressure on the PM on Monday night as he announced his departure just hours after defence secretary John Healey quit.

The pair slammed the Government’s defence spending plan as not fit for purpose as they stepped down amid a furious row over military funding.

Speaking to LBC for the first time since quitting, Mr Carns called for an “honest discussion” about defence spending as he urged Sir Keir to “get behind the nation”.

He told Nick Ferrari at Breakfast: “What we really need is an honest discussion with the population. As to where that money needs to come from and use really innovative ways and every means possible to get the right money for defence.”

Mr Carns said he watched on as the defence secretary remained locked in a standoff with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who he accused of refusing to properly fund defence.

This is part of the problem. We’re fighting each other rather than getting behind the nation, unifying the nation around a common principle of purpose. And that purpose is to defend the nation, defend the freedoms that we enjoy, and ensure we’ve got the determination and courage to make those difficult decisions,” Mr Carns said.

On why he resigned, Mr Carns added: “I clearly set out my message, which is I think we need to get the funding settlement right, and we need to make sure the Defence Investment Plan is looking towards capability or equipment to fight the next war, not the last one.

“And the third point was around the moral component. So the legacy, the Northern Ireland legacy issue, and our issue around veterans being dragged through courts. And unless we sorted those issues out, then I couldn’t stand with the government.”

The investment plan, which is due to be unveiled soon, is slated to improve Britain’s defence against emerging threats.

In his letter to Sir Keir, Mr Carns described the forthcoming defence investment plan as “not built for the threat we face”.

He added: “It is neither transformative enough nor sufficiently funded. We are asking our Armed Forces to operate in a more dangerous world on a budget written for a calmer one.”

Mr Carns also launched an attack on Labour more generally, writing: “The machinery of government itself has been left to decay. Decisions that should take days take months.

“Departments fight each other instead of the problem. Officials and ministers who know the truth are not always rewarded for telling it.”

He concluded: “I’ll keep fighting for the people I served with. I hope this government will too.”

Mr Carns quitting turned a damaging day for the Prime Minister into a full-blown revolt within the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Healey and Mr Carns have been followed out the door by Pamela Nash MP, who has resigned as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS).

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace lamented the resignations on X, writing: “Al was one of my very best commanders when in was in post. The MOD needs him.

“This Government needs his knowledge and leadership. If no.10 won’t listen to him and Healey we really are screwed.”