Keir Starmer’s government has been plunged into further chaos as reports emerge a senior Cabinet minister is on resignation watch and could quit imminently.
Keir Starmer faces further Cabinet chaos tonight (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer’s government has been plunged further into chaos this evening as reports emerge that another Cabinet minister is considering throwing in the towel.
It follows a chaotic day for the Prime Minister after his Defence Secretary and former loyal ally John Healey stepped down blasting Labour’s defence investment plans.
The Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP broadsided his own government saying that the UK’s defence funding plan “falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time”.
His resignation left Sir Keir looking for another defence secretary ahead of the anticipated release of the long-overdue defence investment plan which is expected ahead of the NATO summit.
But this evening rumours were swirling that another top Cabinet member could be about to step down, which could risk further chaos in the very heart of No10.
The Independent was told that Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, could be typing up her resignation letter next.
One MP told that paper that the foreign secretary was “very, very unhappy” with the direction of Sir Keir Starmer‘s government.
She was reported to have even told the Prime Minister that he would need to tell MPs when he planned on leaving Downing Street.
One MP reportedly told The Independent: “John [Healey] will not be the last to quit.” Another caused more trouble for the Government by adding that Ms Cooper “is definitely on resignation watch”.
Ed Davey told the PM to ‘get serious’ (Image: Getty)
But sources close to the Labour grandee denied she was planning to go. They told the Daily Express “no”, when approached by this paper.
The Express understands that Ms Cooper has been hosting Australian and Canadian foreign ministers at her grace-and-favour pad in Chevening.
The source added: “We’re now on the way to Paris, getting on with the job.”
Today’s shocking events have been panned by Sir Keir’s rivals, with the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch saying Mr Healey’s resignation showed Sir Keir’s premiership was “falling apart”, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his departure should act as “a wake-up call” for Sir Keir urging him to “get serious about funding our armed forces properly”.
