Britain’s defence secretary, John Healey, has abruptly quit the Starmer government, in another blow to the leader’s teetering authority.
Our UK colleagues have all the coverage (it was apparently over a new defence spending plan that Healey considered didn’t “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats”):
But it’s also a blow to Richard Marles, who was in the UK for the Aukmin summit of defence and foreign ministers, and had been due to head to a naval base at Portsmouth alongside Healey, overnight our time.
The event was cancelled. Some time later Marles put out a rather mournful statement, saying
I have deeply valued the close and collaborative working relationship with my good friend John Healey as Secretary of Defence, as I have with his predecessors on the Australia-UK defence relationship. I have worked closely with all of them particularly in respect of Aukus.
Our defence relationship is enduring, with deep connections, values and shared interests.
Acknowledging that ultimately this has been a decision for John, I wish him all the best for the future.”
Marles did go to Portsmouth anyway, Guardian Australia was told, to meet the Royal Navy, hosted by a junior defence minister.
The day before, Marles had expressed “a sense of confidence” in the commitment of the UK to the Aukus submarine project.
<small>Source: The Guardian</small>
