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The UK's most senior military officer has warned that Britain will have to "dial back" on military operations and exercises in the coming years if the Ministry of Defence does not receive additional funding, while two former defence ministers have resigned and spoken out against the government's defence spending plans.

Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton, the chief of the defence staff, told a Lords committee that he was "most concerned" about budgets for day-to-day activities, according to multiple reports. The warning came in his first public appearance since the resignation of former Defence Secretary John Healey last week.

The criticism comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure over the defence investment plan, which three senior defence figures have publicly condemned.

Coverage comparison

Reports from The Guardian covering the remarks paint a picture of coordinated criticism from three individuals: Knighton, the current senior military officer; Healey, who resigned as defence secretary; and Al Carns, a former armed forces minister who was widely discussed as a potential leadership candidate. All three have accused the government of underfunding the military, with Knighton focusing on the practical consequences of budget constraints.

Knighton's testimony to the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee highlighted the imbalance between capital spending and day-to-day resource spending. He said that while capital budgets for defence had increased significantly, resource spending — which covers the cost of operations, exercises and personnel — had not kept pace.

"If you look back at the position 20 years ago, the split between resource spending and capital spending was about 80/20," Knighton said, as quoted in multiple reports. "Today it is about 60/40 — 60% on activity and resources, and 40% on capital. On the current projection, by the time we get to 2030 it will be 50/50."

Key claims

  • Military operations at risk: Knighton warned that the UK would have to "dial back" on military operations and exercises if the level of resource funding does not increase, according to reports from The Guardian covering his Lords committee testimony.
  • Resignations over defence spending: Former Defence Secretary John Healey resigned last Thursday, with reports indicating he left because Prime Minister Keir Starmer would not increase defence spending beyond an already agreed 2.6% of GDP by 2027 to 3% by 2030. Healey's resignation speech was characterized by The Guardian as a "blistering" swipe at Starmer.
  • Defence investment plan: The current defence investment plan is expected to provide an additional £13.5bn to the Ministry of Defence over four years, as reported by multiple sources.
  • Waste and inefficiency: Al Carns, who quit as defence minister after Healey's resignation, said there is "unbelievable" waste and inefficiency at the Ministry of Defence, and suggested that mismanaged programmes such as tank investments should be scrapped in favour of new technology, according to an interview published in The Guardian.
  • Starmer's response: Starmer has stated that he has delivered the biggest uplift in defence spending since the 1980s, increasing it from 2.3% to 2.6% of GDP, a claim that has been carried by a single outlet so far.

Perspectives

The government's perspective

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his record, pointing to the largest increase in defence spending since the 1980s. The government's position, as reported, is that the defence investment plan represents a significant uplift and that the capital budget for defence has increased considerably.

The military's perspective

Knighton's testimony underscores the military's concern that while capital investment in equipment is welcome, the day-to-day funding for operations and exercises is insufficient. He warned of the consequences of not addressing this imbalance, including the need to reduce the UK's operational footprint in regions like Europe, Ukraine and the Middle East.

The critics' perspective

Healey and Carns have argued that the government's approach is too cautious and does not meet the scale of the challenge. Healey has called for "bigger politics, bolder priorities, harder choices," while Carns has highlighted the need for root-and-branch reform of the Ministry of Defence to address inefficiency and waste.

Potential leadership considerations

Carns, who has been widely discussed as a potential leadership candidate, said he was more interested in sparking a policy debate than becoming prime minister. He warned that if the policy debate is not handled correctly, the country could be handed to a "potentially far-right party that will split the nation apart."