Dan Jarvis named new defence secretary as Al Carns quits government – UK politics as it happened

Government confirms Jarvis’s move from role as security minister to replace John Healey Dan Jarvis has been named as the new defence secretary, replacing John Healey. Dan Jarvis has been named as the new defence secretary, replacing John Healey following his shock resignation this afternoon. Healey said the spending increase in defence investment plan “falls well short” of what is required”. He also criticised the chancellor Reeves for being unwilling to fund defence by enough, and the prime minister for being too weak to over-rule her. Healey added he was resigning because he did not think defence was getting enough and under these plans, he would have to take decisions that could make Britain “less safe”. The armed forces minister, Al Carns, also quit over the government’s defence spending plans. He wrote on X: “We owe those who serve the UK the kit to do the job and the loyalty to stand by them when it’s done. We are failing on both.” Keir Starmer has insisted a key defence funding plan “will provide the resources our military needs to keep us safe” in a letter to John Healey, who the prime minister said he was sorry to see resign as defence secretary. St