Labour leader Starmer appoints former military commander Dan Jarvis to key defence role

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has appointed former army officer Dan Jarvis as the country's new defence minister, following the sudden resignation of John Healey, who stepped down just hours earlier, citing the government's inadequate commitment to defence spending.

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Jarvis previously served as a junior minister for security within the Home Office, under the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Labour government.

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Healey's unexpected departure has dealt a significant blow to Starmer's authority, coming as it does just a week before a crucial by-election that could potentially trigger a challenge to the prime minister's leadership.

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In a scathing critique, Healey cautioned that the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, which is intended to outline funding for the next decade but has yet to be published, may ultimately compromise the country's safety, leaving Britain "less safe".

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Starmer responded to Healey's concerns in a letter, asserting that his proposed spending plans would enable the armed forces to undergo significant transformation and modernisation, and reaffirming his commitment to the country's safety, stating: "I will always do what is needed to keep our country safe".

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The Defence Investment Plan has faced repeated delays, but Starmer has reiterated his intention to publish it prior to the NATO summit scheduled to take place in Turkey on July 7.