Australia’s defence minister had been due to visit a naval base in Portsmouth with British defence secretary John Healey. Follow today’s news live
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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”):
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.
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