Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy has confirmed that government departments are reducing their own budgets to help fund an increase in UK defence spending.
Nandy, who serves as Culture Secretary, told Sky News that national security remains ministers’ “highest priority” and that resources are actively being redirected across Whitehall.
She said: “There’s a clear picture emerging from this Government that we have moved resources from other departments in order to fund defence, that includes mine and it includes other departments as well, and we’re continuing to do that.”
Nandy declined to answer questions about whether additional funding would be offered to new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, who took over from predecessor John Healey earlier this week.
She said she could not pre-empt the still unpublished Defence Investment Plan, but suggested Jarvis “would not have taken the job were he not confident that we could meet the moment.”
Nandy also pushed back against claims that defence spending is being neglected, insisting the government is firmly committed to the country’s safety and security.
She said: “Defence remains the highest priority, and I don’t agree that we’re not committing the resources that we need. But when the threat level changes, when the global situation changes, we have to change our approach as well.”
Healey resigned on Thursday after months of tension with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over funding commitments for the armed forces, writing that the government’s draft Defence Investment Plan “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time.”
In his resignation letter, Healey wrote: “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.”
Healey also criticised the Treasury, saying it had been “unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.”
Nandy directly disputed Healey’s assessment, saying: “I don’t agree with him on that point, because these are discussions that are currently being had.”
The resignation of Healey, the MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough and widely regarded as a Starmer ally, has heaped further pressure on the Prime Minister at a difficult political moment.
Starmer also faces a potential leadership challenge, with Andy Burnham aiming to win the Makerfield by-election next week as a platform for a wider bid.
Military chiefs have warned of a £28bn funding shortfall over the next four years, driven by rising costs of equipment and other areas of the armed forces.
Starmer had already committed to raising defence spending to 2.6 per cent of GDP from next year, with further pledges to reach three per cent after 2030 and 3.5 per cent by 2035 under a Nato agreement.
Armed Forces Minister Al Carns also resigned on Thursday, citing “inadequate” funding in his own letter to the Prime Minister.