No, John Healey Did Not Send a Resignation Letter Criticising the Defence Plan — Here's What the Evidence Shows

A claim has been circulating that John Healey, the UK's Defence Secretary, sent a resignation letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticising the government's defence investment plan as dangerously inadequate. This is false. There is no credible evidence any such letter exists or was sent.

When the UK government announced a defence spending increase to 2.5% of GDP in February 2025, Healey was publicly supportive. The Guardian reported he described the announcement as a significant step — hardly the language of a minister on the verge of quitting. Reuters covered the spending increase in detail and made no mention of cabinet dissent or a resignation threat from Healey.

BBC News confirmed Healey remained in post as Defence Secretary following the announcement. The UK Government's own official records on GOV.UK show him continuing to serve in that role under Starmer. Every credible source points in the same direction: Healey stayed, and he backed the plan.

It is worth taking the strongest version of this claim seriously. Defence spending is genuinely contested, and some critics — including figures within the military and opposition — have argued that 2.5% of GDP is not enough given the current security environment. It is entirely possible someone holds that view. But there is a big difference between a legitimate policy debate and a fabricated resignation letter attributed to a sitting minister.

This kind of misinformation is worth watching for because it is hard to disprove instantly. A fake internal document or misattributed quote can travel far before a correction catches up. If you see a claim about a resignation letter or leaked document, ask: which credible outlet has independently verified it? If the answer is none, treat it with serious scepticism.