LOCAL MP John Healey resigned from his role as Defence Secretary yesterday.
Mr Healey has been an MP since 1997, first elected in the Wentworth constituency which changed to Wentworth and Dearne in 2010 and then Rawmarsh and Conisbrough in 2024.
He was appointed as Secretary of State for Defence in that year but resigned yesterday, citing concerns around the financial settlement for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP).
In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, he said: “This new era for defence required further investment through the Defence Investment Plan.
“The excellent and extensive cross-government work that completed in January - overseen by you, me and the Chancellor - confirmed the scale of the challenge and the rising demands on defence.
“Since then, you have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.
“After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation as your Defence Secretary.”
