Defiant Starmer vows to fight on despite resignation chaos – what he said

WorldPolitics
12 Jun 2026 • 8:54 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Defiant Starmer vows to fight on despite resignation chaos – what he said

  • Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he must "turn things around" to remain Prime Minister and lead the Labour Party into the next general election.
  • His authority has been significantly undermined by the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, along with two ministerial aides.
  • The resignations stem from concerns over a long-delayed defence investment plan, despite the Prime Minister's assertion that defence spending is a priority.
  • These departures occur at a precarious time for Sir Keir, whose leadership has appeared fragile since the poor results in May's elections across England, Wales, and Scotland.
  • Sir Keir stated he would fight any leadership challenge, expressing his desire to lead Labour into the next general election, expected in 2029, while acknowledging the need to improve after recent electoral setbacks.

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