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  "path": "/politics/britain-new-defence-secretary-fight-armed-forces-funding-john-healey",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-14T01:43:30.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "'Britain is vulnerable' after Labour 'unwilling' to fund defence, says former defence chief",
    "Al Carns considered resigning many times as ex-defence minister reveals he was invited to No10 ONCE",
    "Vladimir Putin floods Nato border with military build-up just as Britain plunges into defence crisis",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nDan Jarvis has vowed to fight for the funding Britain's Armed Forces need in his first interview since being appointed Defence Secretary.\n\nThe former Parachute Regiment major said the Government must \"meet the moment\" on military spending, signalling he could push for greater investment following the resignation of his predecessor John Healey.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"It's a moment of challenge. It's the responsibility of our Government to rise to meet the moment of that challenge, and that is what I will be working to achieve,\" Mr Jarvis told The Telegraph.\n\nThe 53-year-old was appointed to the role last week after Mr Healey dramatically quit the Cabinet over Labour's defence spending plans.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\nIn his resignation letter, Mr Healey accused Sir Keir Starmer of being \"unable\" and the Treasury of being \"unwilling\" to provide the resources required to strengthen Britain's military.\n\nHis departure triggered a wave of resignations, with Armed Forces minister Al Carns and parliamentary private secretaries Pamela Nash and Rachel Hopkins also stepping down.\n\nThe turmoil has intensified pressure on the Prime Minister just days before Thursday's crucial Makerfield by-election, where Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is seeking a return to Westminster.\n\nMr Burnham has already indicated he would stand in any future Labour leadership contest if he wins the seat.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Carns, who has also been touted as a potential leadership contender, used an article in The Telegraph on Saturday to criticise Ed Miliband's Net Zero agenda.\n\nHe argued that energy policy should be viewed as a matter of national security rather than purely an environmental issue.\n\nDespite reports that some Labour figures regard the Defence brief as a poisoned chalice, Mr Jarvis said he never considered turning down the role.\n\n\"I think if the Prime Minister asks you to step forward to serve in a role that underpins the security of our nation in truth, I don't have it in my DNA to say no to that,\" he said.\n\n### DEFENCE - READ THE LATEST:\n\n\n\n\n  * 'Britain is vulnerable' after Labour 'unwilling' to fund defence, says former defence chief\n  * Al Carns considered resigning many times as ex-defence minister reveals he was invited to No10 ONCE\n  * Vladimir Putin floods Nato border with military build-up just as Britain plunges into defence crisis\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Barnsley MP brings significant military experience to the Cabinet position, having served as a major in the Parachute Regiment with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Kosovo.\n\nHe praised Mr Healey as \"an exceptional Secretary of State\" and said he inherited armed forces that had suffered from years of underinvestment.\n\nMr Jarvis revealed he learned of Mr Healey's resignation while delivering a speech at Sandhurst to mark 30 years since his own time as a cadet.\n\n\"Towards the end of my talk, my phone was ringing, kept ringing, I kept ignoring it... and then in the end I had to say, 'I think something's happening',\" he recalled.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAs he left the military academy, a former colleague shouted Sandhurst's motto of \"Serve to lead\".\n\nWithin hours, Sir Keir had offered him a place in the Cabinet.\n\nMr Jarvis described becoming Defence Secretary as a dream role and admitted it was a position he had often thought about during his political career.\n\n\"Defence has always been my first love,\" he said.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Britain's new Defence Secretary vows to fight for Armed Forces funding after John Healey exit"
}