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Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor

Shock resignation creates fresh crisis for Starmer

The dramatic resignation of John Healey as defence secretary has sent shockwaves through the government.
Until today, Mr Healey had been viewed as one of the most dependable members of Sir Keir’s top team.

But now he has become the sixth - and the most senior - minister to walk out in the month since May’s election results plunged Labour into crisis.

As he quit, amid a furious row over funding for the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, Mr Healey hit out at Sir Keir, accusing the PM of putting the country’s security at risk at a time of growing international threats.

All this comes exactly a week before voters go to the polls in the Makerfield by-election, which Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham hopes to win ahead of launching a challenge to Starmer’s leadership.

Starmer government thrown into chaos as defence secretary quits over military spending

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Daily debrief

John Healey’s resignation is the beginning of the end for Starmer

John Healey’s resignation goes well beyond a row over defence spending, political editor David Maddox writes

Boris was never serious about Europe – I’ve got the letters that prove it

One of the few people to have read both of Boris Johnson’s fabled newspaper columns – one arguing to leave the EU, one to remain – before he decided to publicly back the Brexit campaign, was his sister Rachel Johnson.

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A decade on from the EU referendum, Alex Ross visits Cornwall to discover a fishing industry still reeling from a betrayal by the Leave campaign

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John Rentoul, Chief Political Commentator