Podcasts about defence secretary

The former Health Secretary reveals why he believes Keir Starmer is failing.When Wes Streeting resigned from cabinet in May, it put an end to months of speculation. The former Health Secretary does want Keir Starmer's job. Since then, the Defence Secretary, John Healey, and the Armed Forces minister, Al Carns, have both resigned over the Defence Spending plan. Keir Starmer's leadership is looking more and more precarious.Now Andy Burnham is running in the Makerfield by-election. If he becomes an MP, that could clear a way for him to contest the leadership himself.In the days leading up to the by-election, Wes Streeting came into the New Statesman studio for an extended interview with our Political Correspondent, Ethan Croft. In the conversation you're about to hear, Streeting speaks candidly about the reasons he left government, his views on Keir Starmer's leadership and what he believes Labour needs to do to reverse its ailing fortunes. He's also surprisingly complimentary about his potential rival in a future leadership contest, Andy Burnham.LISTEN AD-FREE:

Keir Starmer struts across the G7 stage in Evian — but with a resigned Defence Secretary, a furious Armed Forces Minister, and a Chief of the Defence Staff warning that Britain can barely afford to train its own troops, world leaders are greeting him with what Sir David Davis bluntly calls "ill-disguised pity."Former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt, joins Julia in the studio to dissect the defence spending catastrophe, drawing a chilling parallel with 1935 — the last time Britain was this exposed. He warns that if we fail to deter Russia now, the cost of hot war will be one hundred times greater than what we are currently refusing to spend.Sir David Davis tears into the Iran deal, calling it a "pathetic negotiation" that has handed Tehran a revenue stream it never knew it had, set a dangerous precedent over international waters, and left Gulf states quietly furious.Plus — Starmer's social media ban for under-16s: good intentions or yet another half-baked headline grabber with zero detail?Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the bombshell resignation of John Healey as Defence Secretary, Ben speaks to Sir Michael Fallon, a former Conservative Defence Secretary, and Luke Charters, a Labour MP who has campaigned on defence finance issues.After the horrific knife attack in Belfast on Monday, and the street violence that followed, Ben brings together the former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Foster, and the Labour Chair of the Northern Ireland Select Committee, Tonia Antoniazzi.Could next week's by-election in Makerfield precipitate a change of Prime Minister? And, if so, how tricky is it to change a leader in the middle of a parliament? Ben hears from Professor Philip Cowley of Queen Mary University of London and Cleo Watson, a former senior aide to Boris Johnson.And, as the World Cup gets underway, Ben talks football and politics with two superfans, former Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson, and comedian and political interviewer, Matt Forde.

A second defence minister has resigned in protest at Keir Starmer's failure to fund Britain's armed forces. Al Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, has followed John Healey out of the Ministry of Defence, warning that the government is letting down those in uniform – and taking aim at both the defence investment plan and Labour's handling of Northern Ireland veterans.Starmer has now appointed Dan Jarvis as Defence Secretary, but the brief increasingly looks like a poisoned chalice. With the Strategic Defence Review still unfunded, ministers sent out to defend a plan they have not seen, and the Prime Minister heading to the G7 and Nato summit under pressure, has Starmer's strongest claim to leadership – defence and foreign affairs – collapsed?James Heale speaks to Tim Shipman.Produced by Megan McElroy.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Silicon Bites Ep350 | 2026-06-11 | BRITAIN UNDEFENDED: John Healey Just Resigned as Defence Secretary Because Starmer and Reeves Refused to Fund the Defence of the United Kingdom — and the Most Dangerous Threat Environment Since the 1930s Has Just Lost Its Most Senior British Champion.Breaking: 11 June 2026 — Healey Quits Over the Defence Investment Plan, the £13 Billion Gap Between What Defence Officials Said the Country Needs and What the Treasury Was Willing to Offer, and the Question Every Allied Capital Is Now Asking — Who, in London, Is Now in Charge of Defending Britain?John Healey — Secretary of State for Defence of the United Kingdom since 5 July 2024, Member of Parliament for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough since 1997, former shadow defence secretary, and the man Keir Starmer brought into government to anchor Britain's defence policy in the most dangerous decade since the 1930s — resigned.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SOURCES:CNN — "John Healey: UK defense secretary resigns over military spending, in fresh blow to Keir Starmer" (11 June 2026) The National — "Defence Secretary John Healey resigns over investment plan that makes UK 'less safe'" (11 June 2026) Wikipedia — "John Healey" — Defence Secretary since 5 July 2024; MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough since 1997 (previously Wentworth/Wentworth and Dearne); Christ's College Cambridge; born 13 February 1960 in Wakefield; junior ministerial positions under Blair and Brown 2001-2010; shadow defence secretary 2020-2024BBC News Live coverage — "Defence Secretary John Healey delivers SDR statement" (2 June 2025) CBS News — "Citing Russia threat, U.K. leader announces military spending boost, including new nuclear-powered submarines" (2 June 2025)NPR — "Why the U.K. prime minister is calling for a bigger military to face Russia" (4 June 2025)The Independent (US/AOL syndication) — "Starmer warned UK faces '1936 moment' as ex-defence chiefs urge spending boost" — Telegraph open letter from three former defence secretaries, retired senior military chiefs, former MI6 head Sir Richard Dearlove; "hollowed out by years of chronic underfunding"; call for 5% of GDP defence spending; "1936 moment" framing of global conflict likelihood; "Our actions fall dangerously short of matching this rhetoric and of meeting our treaty obligations" verbatimIISS Military Balance 2025 (via Bloomberg/Yahoo) — "UK Unable to Defend Against Ballistic Missile Attack, IISS Warns" (February 2025) AP via Yahoo — "UK to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, Starmer says 2 days before Trump meeting" (February 2025) Reuters — "Britain needs to step up defence spending faster, PM Starmer says" (February 2026)Fox News — "'Trump effect' on display as UK's Starmer boosts defense spending on eve of US visit" (February 2025) ----------

‘If you were Prime Minister, genuinely trying to sort this out, you would not have allowed the Treasury to put out the quote that they did.'Former Defence Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt criticises Keir Starmer for not ‘battling' the Labour backbenchers, warning that the next person to take the role of Defence Secretary needs to secure guarantees for the future budget and NATO's requirements.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a public rebuke to John Healey following his shock resignation as Defence Secretary. Healey stepped down after a disagreement over the UK's military investment strategy, warning that current funding models leave the nation exposed. Starmer responded by asserting that the current increases in defence spending remain sustainable and fair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer grappling with another political setback after defence secretary John Healey's shock resignation over armed forces funding. 

The resignation of Britain's Defence Secretary has thrown high-level talks with Australia into disarray and reignited debate about the future of the AUKUS submarine pact. John Healey quit after accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government of failing to adequately fund defence, forcing the cancellation of a planned appearance with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles. The political fallout is now being felt on both sides of the world, with critics questioning the stability of one of Australia's most ambitious defence projects.Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.TRANSCRIPT“At six a dramatic and unexpected resignation by the defence secretary John Healey... “The shock resignation of John Healy has exposed deep divisions within the British government over defence spending.Mr Healey quit after a dispute with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over military funding, warning Britain was failing to invest enough in its armed forces at a time of growing global threats.Just hours earlier, he had been photographed jogging with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles ahead of a planned visit to Portsmouth Naval Base.That event was later cancelled after Mr Healey's resignation.The now former Defence Secretary had been publicly defending AUKUS and Britain's commitment to the submarine partnership.“I'm not going to comment on figures - the Prime Minister knows what defence and the nation needs.” The resignation has triggered a political storm in London.Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch says Sir Keir Starmer's government is unraveling.“Keir Starmer's premiership is falling apart, his health secretary resigned two weeks ago, his defence secretary resigned at a critical time when we are facing global threats and he is doing so because the  prime minister is trying to please his back benchers by putting money into welfare instead of defence”. The developments have also intensified scrutiny of AUKUS in Australia.Peter Garrett, who is chairing a public inquiry into the submarine pact, says the timing of the resignation highlights why the project needs closer examination.“The reason we need to have the enquiry now is there has never been a public debate or even a parliamentary debate about the biggest amount of money that Australian will ever spend in its defence history, at least up to now and the fact that Mr Marles' counterpart has disappeared overnight - I mean it's a bit of a symbol really” Mr Garrett says Australia should make its own assessment of whether the deal is in the national interest.“I think our credibility is only enhanced if we apply  our own thinking as an independent sovereign nation as to what's in our best national interest, and that's the question that we're asking about AUKUS is it ultimately in our best national interest? And other nations will respect that, if we come to that view.”    The Greens have also seized on the developments.Senator David Shoebridge says Richard Marles has been left politically exposed by turmoil among Australia's AUKUS partners.“Defence minister Marles seems committed to a process of ritual global humiliation as he does a world tour of AUKUS.  Richard Marles went to Singapore and came back with 3 second hand submarines.  He then travels off to the UK for AUKUS and is met by the resignation of the UK defence minister, literally been left standing at the altar with not a nuclear sub to be seen.  You can't make this stuff up.”       The federal government has rejected suggestions the resignation will affect the submarine deal.Cabinet minister Tim Ayres says AUKUS has deep support across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States and will continue regardless of changes in personnel.

John Healey resigns over the defence budget. Al Carns, armed forces minister follows him out and comes in to the studio to explain why. And the MenB rollout to Year 13 & university students to combat meningitis.

As we sat down to get voters' verdicts on the prime minister in Makerfield, he suffered yet another massive headache – his Defence Secretary, John Healey, resigned. And a few hours later, two more resignations. How weak is Keir Starmer now? And is this a problem for the safety of the UK?Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman hear from locals voting next week - do they think Andy Burnham is destined for Number 10? What about the other parties' ambitions for the area, and what do they make of all the attention they've been getting lately?Plus – the ladies have an announcement - you'll have to listen through to the end to find out...For a full list of candidates standing in Makerfield, visit the Electoral Commission website.Got a question for the burner phone? WhatsApp 07934 200 444 or email electoraldysfunction@sky.uk.And if you want to hear more about Ed Conway's Stuff Matters podcast, go to podfollow.com/stuff- matters Sky News Insider requires a paid subscription and is available to UK listeners aged 18 and over.

John Healey's parting broadside as Defence Secretary, and Al Carns resignation as Armed Forces Minister, are clearly intended to jolt the government into a rethink of the Defence Investment Plan. But will it work?Sitrep explains the difficult choices now facing by the new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis, and how his experience in the Parachute Regiment might shape his approach.Professor Michael Clarke runs the numbers on the Defence Investment Plan which John Healey says “falls well short of what is required for defence… at this dangerous time”.And he explains why this leaves the Chiefs of the Armed Forces in a very delicate position.

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Britain's defence secretary, John Healey, has resigned, accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to commit the resources needed to protect the nation from rising threats. Mr Healey said a long-delayed investment plan fell well short of what was required to bring defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 - a NATO target. He highlighted Mr Starmer's recent warning that Russia could attack the alliance as soon as that year.Also: Iran says its ceasefire with the US is now practically meaningless after a second night of airstrikes. Pope Leo is visiting the Canary Islands and meeting migrants who survived the Atlantic crossing to reach Spanish territory. With the World Cup about to kick off in Mexico City, we get a look behind the scenes at the Azteca Stadium. Australia begins a huge inquiry into unsolved murders and disappearances. New research reveals that people have a natural tendency to veer to the left when walking. And we hear about one woman's mission to spot every butterfly species in Denmark - and what she discovered along the way.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: John Healey, who has resigned as Britain's defence secretary, delivering a speech at an event in MayCredit: PA

Day 1,567.As Ukraine intensifies its campaign against Crimea by striking key bridges and transport links in an effort to isolate the peninsula, we examine potentially seismic political developments in London. Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey – one of Kyiv's strongest allies and a leading advocate for military rearmament – has dramatically resigned in protest over defence spending and the country's preparedness for a future conflict, triggering a crisis that could topple the Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Francis and Dom comb through Healey's damning resignation letter and consider how Kyiv will react to the news. Later, Francis explores a major new report on the risks of a sudden ceasefire in Ukraine with some of the world's leading experts.Thumbnail image shows Crimean bridge ablaze in 2022.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.With thanks to:Orysia Lutsevych OBE (head of the Ukraine Forum, Chatham House)Simon Smith (chair of the steering committee, Ukraine Forum, Chatham House, and British ambassador 2012 to 2015)Keir Giles (senior consulting fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, and author Who Will Defend Europe?)John Lough (associate fellow, Chatham House, and head of foreign policy, New Eurasian Strategies Centre)Producer: Phil AtkinsSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: James EnglandSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:John Healey resigns over Starmer's defence spending plan (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/06/11/john-healey-resigns-as-defence-secretary-labour-starmer/ Russia is creating launch sites for combat drones near the borders of Belarus. We show you where (Radio Liberty, in Belarusian):https://www.svaboda.org/a/33777451.html How a Russia–Ukraine ceasefire could imperil Ukrainian and European security (Chatham House):https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/05/how-russia-ukraine-ceasefire-could-imperil-ukrainian-and-european-securityEMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Putin arms up summer palace as Ukraine deep strikes tear through Russian defencesIs the election of a pro-Europe party in Armenia actually a win for Putin? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned.In his resignation letter to the PM, Healey set out his reasons for leaving, telling the PM the defence investment plan "falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”. The sixth minister to resign for Starmer's cabinet in a month, and one of its most loyal, the question will now turn to what lies ahead for the PM.Adam and Chris are joined by Shashank Joshi Defence Editor of the EconomistYou can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris and Gabriel Purcell-Davis. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was . The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

John Healey has resigned as defence secretary over the government's military spending plans, in another significant blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan “falls well short of what is required for defence” and that he would have had to take decisions that “could make Britain less safe”. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to the Guardian's policy editor, Kiran Stacey Healey quits in row with Starmer over military spending. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

John Healey has resigned as Defence Secretary. In a blistering letter to the Prime Minister, he said: ‘You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.'This comes after Keir Starmer failed even to secure the derisory sum of money he had demanded from the Treasury and the cabinet to modernise Britain's forces following the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review. The timing is equally devastating, as Starmer is heading to the G7 summit on Monday, where he will have to face Donald Trump.So what does this mean for Starmer's premiership? Will more resignations follow – or will the missiles turn on the Treasury and Rachel Reeves's reluctance to cough up? And who will take on the poisoned chalice of the defence brief now?Noa Hoffman speaks to Tim Shipman and James Heale.Produced by Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The defence secretary, John Healey, said he had "no option" but to resign over the financial settlement for the government's defence investment plan. In a letter to the Prime Minister he said that the Treasury had been "unwilling" and that Sir Keir Starmer was "unable" to provide the necessary resources to keep the country safe. In other news: for the first time, the government has published the number of NHS patients in England receiving care outside formal treatment areas; and the 2026 World Cup is due to get under way.

What does John Healey's shock resignation mean for Keir Starmer, whose position is already on the line ahead of Andy Burnham's crunch by-election in Makerfield? Who might replace Healey in one of the most important jobs in government, at one of the most dangerous moments in the UK's history? With NATO allies demanding higher spending on defence and Trump's America growing ever more unpredictable, can Britain afford a government at war with itself over military spending? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more in this emergency episode. __________ Enjoy Rory and Alastair's interview with Odd Arne Westad by searching ‘Leading' on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus. Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. Stop overpaying for energy. Switch at fuseenergy.com/politics and get a free TRIP+ subscription. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅ __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Adam Thornton, Harry Swan Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The defence secretary has resigned over the government's military spending plans, in another major blow for Keir Starmer. In a scathing letter to the prime minister, John Healey said the long-awaited defence investment plan ‘falls well short of what is required for defence' and that he would have to take decisions that ‘could make Britain less safe'. Nosheen Iqbal speaks to policy editor Kiran Stacey. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/politicspod

Defence Secretary John Healey resigned this afternoon, over the government's much delayed defence funding plan. In a letter to the prime minister, Healey said Keir Starmer had been “unable” to commit resources that the UK desperately needs. So what does this mean for Starmer's leadership? And will taxpayers ultimately be left to foot the bill? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuests: Anna Mikhailova, political editor, Times Radio. Larisa Brown, defence editor, The Times. General Sir John McColl, former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Host: John Pienaar. Producers: Angus Mitchell, Sofia Johanson. We want to hear from you - email: thestory@thetimes.comRead more: John Healey has launched a broadside at Keir Starmer. Will the PM surrender?Further listening: Has Britain become ungovernable?Photo: Getty Images.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The armed forces minister quits hours after the defence secretary steps down over the government's military spending plans. A new defence secretary has now been appointed. We talk to two Labour MPs about how to pay for extra defence spending, and where this leaves the prime minister.Also on the programme: We're live in Mexico City after the men's football World Cup's opening game. How is disorder on the streets of Belfast being coordinated on social media? And, following the popularity of weight loss jabs, the medicines regulator approves a weight loss pill for private prescription.

Belfast is burning — and the government's answer is to crack down on you for talking about it. A second night of disorder gripped the city after knife-attack suspect Hadi Alodid, a Sudanese national, was granted asylum via a Tory fast-track scheme requiring nothing more than a ten-page questionnaire. No face-to-face interview. No proper vetting. Just a tick-box exercise — and five years' leave to remain.Julia Hartley-Brewer is joined by former senior military intelligence officer Philip Ingram, who warns that foreign powers — Russia, China, Iran — are actively stoking division on British streets, and that the rioting in Belfast is exactly the kind of domestic chaos they want to see. Meanwhile, only one asylum seeker has been returned to Ireland since 2020, despite a formal agreement to do so, as people-smuggling gangs exploit the open Irish border with impunity.Then, in a bombshell moment live on air, news breaks that Defence Secretary John Healey has resigned — unable to secure the funding Britain desperately needs to defend itself. Sir Ian Duncan Smith calls it out bluntly: a Chancellor blocking the Defence Investment Plan, a Prime Minister too weak to overrule her, and a nation sleepwalking into the most dangerous geopolitical moment since the 1930s. Ships tied up in port. No Royal Navy presence in the Mediterranean. And a government more concerned with appeasing its own backbenchers than protecting the realm.The message is clear — our borders are open, our defences are crumbling, and the real crime, according to this government, is noticing.Julia Hartley-Brewer broadcasts on Talk from Monday to Thursday, 10AM to 1PM. Available on YouTube and streaming platforms, along with DAB+ radio and your smart speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around lunch time today, as The News Agents were battling their own excitement in the shape of a fire drill, the Defence Secretary suddenly resigned without warning. He left with a devastating critique of the Starmer government failures in his wake. The loyal and highly regarded Healey resigned out of frustration that promises made on defence spending weren't being kept. And that the Prime Minister wouldn't even set a date for the increases to happen. Has Starmer “failed to keep the country safe"? And a week out from the Makerfield by-election, is this the nail in the coffin for Starmer's leadership?The News Agents is a Global Production.The News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

This month marks the tenth anniversary of the Brexit referendum – a vote that unleashed four years of extraordinary political turmoil. Judges were branded "enemies of the people", MPs denounced as "saboteurs", political parties fractured, and Prime Ministers rose and fell amid relentless parliamentary drama. Historian Dr Robert Saunders of Queen Mary University of London has written a new paper arguing that Brexit was more than a bitter political dispute: it amounted to a full-blown democratic crisis. In this episode, Robert joins Ruth and Mark to explore why Britain's political system struggled to interpret and implement the referendum instruction, and why Parliament and the major parties appear to have learned so little from the experience. The conversation then turns to current events. In the wake of the horrific attacks in Southampton and Belfast, they ask whether the same political and social forces that fuelled the Brexit revolt are now at play over immigration. Robert last appeared on the podcast at Christmas to discuss why the job of Prime Minister increasingly looks impossible. With Sir Keir Starmer now facing fresh turmoil following the resignation of the Defence Secretary, John Healey, the discussion returns to that theme: could this latest setback prove fatal to Starmer's premiership, or might he survive as a “Zombie Prime Minister”, still in office but with his authority destroyed? _____

Another member of Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet has jumped ship, with Britain's Defence Secretary John Healey the latest to go. He's the sixth minister to resign in the past month. Healey's accusing the Prime Minister of putting the UK at risk, with a planned defence spending uplift of just 0.08% of GDP. UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney told Francesca Rudkin that Healey's suggesting it won't provide the military equipment needed in a dangerous world. He says Starmer's acknowledged Healey's comments but says he doesn't agree - but also hasn't found anyone to replace him yet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police and politicians in Belfast have called for calm after violent protests took place across the city. It comes as a man has been charged with attempted murder over a knife attack on Monday night. Police described the alleged attacker as a Sudanese man, who the Home Office said entered the UK in 2023 and was granted refugee status. We hear more about the social and political context of tonight's unrest.Also on the programme: we get reaction from the GMB Union to the Defence Secretary's pledge to buy British and find out why an American actor decided to learn Welsh to appear on the BBC's longest running TV soap.

A Zen temple helps Marcus seek balance between the contradictions in Australia's defence Strategy, while Michael struggles with a noisy kettle in the bunker. Australia's new Defence Secretary takes over the much smaller empire left by her predecessor - and brings skills to help Minister Pat Conroy produce new numbers around new 'announceables' at will. Secretary Quinn has arrived in the nick of time, right as Mr Conroy's alchemy of announceables post-strategy launch seeks to sell US Defence Prime Northrop Grumman building rocket motors in Australia by 2033 as an example of the urgent creation of sovereign Aussie sovereign industry. It's beautiful to watch Marcus apply his new mindfulness tools in a doomed but noble attempt to set out the maths behind the big new spending claims of the Australian Government in recent weeks. The episode covers the growing distortion of Australia's military towards things on the water over things in the air and land - despite Australia being a country surrounded by both water and air....and it finishes up with US sub numbers and the breath of fresh air injected into Australia's defence debate by Senator Paterson, daring to notice things like delays in big programmes, and thinking beyond the usual beat ups.

A person is in custody after shots fired at event with President Trump. He praised the secret service operative who'd intercepted him. The US president and the first lady were unharmed. Also with Mr Trump was the US Vice-President, JD Vance, the Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, and other members of the president's cabinet. In other news, the latest hopes for a new round of talks between Iran and the US have faded after Donald Trump cancelled a planned trip by US negotiators to Islamabad shortly after the Iranian foreign minister left the Pakistani capital. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, orders army to "vigorously attack" Hezbollah in Lebanon. Colombia says rebels are responsible for highway bombing which killed 14 people. Forty years since the worst nuclear disaster in history, we hear from the then Moscow bureau chief for the Reuters news agency. He was one of the first reporters to get close to Chernobyl after the accident. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, red twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Criticism of Labour's response to the global threat, Trump's AI Jesus and parliament's "summer of sex".Will Dunn and Anoosh Chakelian round up this week's stories.Any suggestions for next week's categories, please comment below.

with Neil Colbourne 14.4.26@vincetracy and neil colbourne discussed #weather #grandnational #budget #labour #illegalimmigration  #BGT #woke #politics #gramsci #hegemony #zakpolanski #greenparty #onlinepress #ideology #spain #ceuta  #hashish #dogs  #drugs #valenciaairport #barcelona #london #artificialintelligence #russia

“It was three submarines. We tracked them 24/7 for over a month to make sure that we are able to say to Putin, we see what you're doing, we're watching you. It means that if there is ever any damage to our cables or our pipelines, we know we can hold Putin to account. We know he can't deny it.” Adam Fleming speaks to John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, after he revealed Russian submarines have been carrying out covert operations over the UK's deep-sea cables and pipelines, critical to energy and internet traffic. He says the activity could form part of a wider strategy to map infrastructure in peacetime, and target it during conflict. While global attention is focused on the Middle East, he argues Britain cannot be distracted from what he calls its “primary threat”, and that the UK and its Nato allies must remain on constant alert to Russian activity. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, and Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts. Presenter: Adam Fleming Producers: Osman Iqbal Editor: Justine Lang and Damon Rose Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.(Image: John Healey Credit: Thomas Traasdahl / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images)

Today, the defence secretary has revealed the British military has responded to a month-long Russian submarine operation over cables and pipelines north of UK.John Healey says he deployed a warship and aircraft in response, and the Russian vessels were "monitored 24/7". He says there is "no evidence" of any damage to UK infrastructure in the Atlantic. Why are the cables so important? What was Russia trying to achieve? Are the UK able to stop them from doing this again in future? Adam is joined by the Defence Secretary John Healey. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Jack Maclaren. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Amid more dire polling for Labour and the revelation that both he and the Defence Secretary were on holiday as Donald Trump threatened to wipe Iran off the map at the weekend, Keir Starmer has now disappeared to the Middle East for meetings with Gulf state leaders.The Telegraph's political editor Tony Diver tells Camilla and Tim that, despite him having no say in ceasefire talks, this is a desperate, last-ditch strategy to portray Starmer as an international statesman by Number 10, with a local election wipe-out on the cards in May. Elsewhere, Tony also talks Camilla and Tim through his exclusive research that shows the UK is more divided than ever before.

Should the Defence Secretary being going off to the south of France for Easter during a crisis, Russian ships sailing through the channel unchallenged, and how being married could reduce your risk of cancer.

After the Defence Secretary's disastrous LBC interview, how confident are you in Britain's ability to defend itself?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question are the former Conservative Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood, Labour MP Jim Dickson, former Tory adviser Lucy Harris, plus LBC's very own Natasha Devon.

Day 1,478.Today, as President Zelensky arrives in France for talks with Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Defence Secretary claims the “hidden hand” of Vladimir Putin is behind Iranian drone strikes targeting British troops and allied forces in the Middle East. We report on Washington's move to further ease sanctions on Russia by allowing all countries – not just India – to purchase Russian oil, a decision Britain's Energy Minister warns could help the Kremlin stabilise its struggling economy. We also bring an unusual story from Moscow, where a man's love of Domino's Pizza has led to a three-year court battle. And later, our regular update on resistance activity in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine with Dr Jade McGlynn of King's College London.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.Dr Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department at King's College, London).NOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Russia accused of systematic abduction of children (Francis in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/12/russia-accused-systematic-abduction-ukrainian-children/ Trump is wrong to release Russian oil, says Merz (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/13/trump-is-wrong-to-release-russian-oil-says-merz/ Russian with Domino's tattoo loses right to free pizza for life (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/12/russian-with-dominos-tattoo-loses-right-to-free-pizza/ Putin's ‘hidden hand' behind attack on British troops (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/12/iranian-drones-attack-british-military-base-erbil-iraq/ SBU thwarts Russian plot to assassinate Third Army Corps Commander Biletsky (Hromadske):https://hromadske.ua/en/war/260757-rosiyskyy-ahent-hotuvav-ubyvstvo-komandyra-tretyoho-armiyskoho-korpusu-biletskoho-pid-chas-yoho-vizytu-na-front‘The Russians are coming (again!) (The Russia Desk):https://desk-russie.eu/2026/03/10/les-russes-arrivent-encore.html Articles referenced by Dr Jade McGlynn:‘Capturing the minds: The role of child deportation in maintaining Russian authority over Ukraine's occupied territories' by Jade McGlynn and Anastasiia Romaniuk – https://tinyurl.com/36jva5aj Carnegie article – https://carnegieendowment.org/russia-eurasia/politika/2026/02/ukraine-elections-preparationUN DOCUMENTS ON STOLEN CHILDREN:Regular report: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session61/advance-version/a-hrc-61-61-auv.pdf Session reports: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session61/list-reports Conference room paper on children deportations: https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session61/a-hrc-61-crp-8.pdf WEEKLY NEWSLETTER:Our weekly newsletter includes maps of the frontlines and diagrams of weapons, answers your questions, provides recommended reading, and gives exclusive analysis and behind-the-scenes insights.. It's free for everyone, including non-subscribers. Join here – http://telegraph.co.uk/ukrainenewsletter EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk . We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many on air and in our newsletter as possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said that air strikes on Iran today will be the 'most intense' so far of the eleven-day war. In a news conference at the Pentagon, Mr Hegseth said America was achieving its war goals and winning with 'brutal efficiency' - and that Iran would be 'decisively defeated'. Also: Some local commuter services are expected to resume at Glasgow Central station tomorrow -- three days after a large fire in a neighbouring building forced it to close. And: On the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, Lossiemouth -- trained by the leading Irish trainer, Willie Mullins -- stormed to victory in the Champion Hurdle, the first big race of the meeting.

As the US-Israeli war against Iran continues to widen, President Trump's defence secretary has declared the American military action the "most lethal, most complex and most precise aerial operation in history". Also: Iran launches fresh attacks on targets across the Gulf. And the Iranian Red Crescent says more than 550 people have been killed in Iran.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK's response to the Iran strikes, as Defence Secretary John Healey spoke for the first time since the air strikes began.

Much buzz about a possible NATO Arctic Sentry operation helped calm Donald Trump's talk of taking over Greenland, and the UK is one of the big backers. But do we have enough troops properly trained to operate in some of the world's harshest conditions Ex-Royal Marine Tip Cullen shares the hard realities, including freezing eyeballs, while former Infantry officer Ed Arnold assesses whether it would be a worthwhile use of troops. As a project leader is sacked, and the Defence Secretary says it's nearly “back or scrap” time for the Ajax armoured vehicle programme, former tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon gives his verdict from a test drive. And Professor Michael Clarke has read the new US Defense Strategy so you don't have to. Spoiler alert – it namechecks President Trump more than fifty times, but says nothing about troop numbers.

Annie Bergeron-Oliver, CTV News; Leon Panetta, Former CIA Director & U.S. Defence Secretary; Heath MacDonald, Agriculture Minister; The Front Bench with: Dan Moulton, Shakir Chambers, Kathleen Monk & Laura Stone.

US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about media giant Paramount throwing its hat in the ring to buy Warner Brothers, sparking a bidding war with Netflix, as well as the Defence Secretary facing more pressure around US strikes on alleged drug boats.

A new series on former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, a man born in the Victorian era who led Britain into her thermonuclear age and through the Cuban Missile Crisis.This episode starts with his horrible experiences in the trenches and takes us up to his 1954 appointment as Defence Secretary, but we take in Greek tragedy, adultery, plane crashes and a bit of Ronnie Kray on the way.To get AD-FREE ACCESS please consider becoming a patron of the pod where you will get your own feed delivering all episodes to you, ad-free, plus bonus episodes.The books I quote from today are:Supermac: The Life of Harold Macmillan, by D.R. ThorpeChurchill and the Bomb, by Kevin Ruane The Macmillan Diaries: The Cabinet Years, by Harold Macmillan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration is under pressure for answers about military strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, after a report alleged that United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an order to "kill everybody" onboard.Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the US. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Today, John Healey joins the podcast after a Russian ship suspected of mapping undersea cables pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking its activity near UK waters. The Defence Secretary gave a speech at Downing Street that morning describing the move as “deeply dangerous.” It comes on the same day that a report from MPs says that the UK lacks a plan to defend itself from a military attack.Adam and Chris speak to John Healey about the escalating threat to the UK, lifting the lid on what conflict looks like in a world of undersea drones and cables, and what is being done to shore up UK military defences in what Healey calls a “new era of threat.”You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Rufus Gray with Shiler Mahmoudi and Kris Jalowiecki. The social producer was Beth Pritchard. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

The Defence Secretary, John Healey, has accused a Russian ship operating on the edge of UK waters of directing lasers at RAF pilots monitoring its movements. Also: The Supreme Court rules that Christian-focused religious education in Northern Ireland is unlawful. And inflation dips for the first time since March, but food prices go up.

Today, Alex joins Laura to discuss what we know about a stabbing attack that took place on board a Doncaster-London train on Saturday evening. The police have said "there's nothing to suggest" it was a terrorist incident. Two British nationals are being held in custody on suspicion of murder.Plus we continue yesterday's conversation about politicians weighing into royal affairs, as the Defence Secretary, John Healey, tells Laura that the King wants Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to lose his military titles.You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscordGet in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXdNewscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Alex Forsyth. It was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray. The social producer was Grace Braddock. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The weekend series producer is Chris Flynn. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

What tactic did Donald Trump steal from Gordon Brown? What can we learn from when Labour beat UKIP in the 2012 Rotherham by-election when it comes to taking on Farage? As a New Labour alumnus, why does John Healey think there was more patience for change in 1997 compared to 2024?  Rory and Alastair are joined by John Healey, The Secretary of State for Defence, to discuss all this and more.  For Leading listeners, there's free access to the Wordsmith Academy - plus their report on the future of legal skills. Visit https://www.wordsmithai/politics To save your company time and money, open a Revolut Business account today via https://www.revolut.com/rb/leading, and add money to your account by 31st of December 2025 to get a £200 welcome bonus or equivalent in your local currency. Feature availability varies by plan. This offer's available for New Business customers in the UK, US, Australia and Ireland. Fees and Terms & Conditions apply. For US customers, Revolut is not a bank. Banking services and card issuance are provided by Lead Bank, Member FDIC. Visa® and Mastercard® cards issued under license. Funds are FDIC insured up to $250,000 through Lead Bank, in the event Lead Bank fails. Fees may apply. See full terms in description. For Irish customers, Revolut Bank UAB is authorised and regulated by the Bank of Lithuania in the Republic of Lithuania and by the European Central Bank and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. For AU customers, consider PDS & TMD at revolut.com/en-AU. Revolut Payments Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 517589). Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, an exclusive members' newsletter, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. Instagram: @restispolitics  Twitter: @RestIsPolitics  Email: restispolitics@gmail.com Social Producer: Celine Charles Producer: Alice Horrell Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Head of Politics: Tom Whiter Exec Producers: Tony Pastor + Jack Davenport Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has signed an executive order renaming the Defence Department, the Department of War; Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said the change was to restore a warrior ethos. It must be approved by Congress although it is likely to pass. Also: Darth Vader's light sabre is sold for more than three million dollars, and the power of the washing machine to transform lives.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk