Defence secretary John Healey has become the sixth minister to resign from Keir Starmer’s government in the past month, piling yet more pressure on the embattled prime minister.

In an unusually detailed resignation letter to Starmer, Healey criticised the government’s military spending plans, which he said fall “well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time” and would leave him “forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces”.

Following a strategic defence review, the government has repeatedly postponed its Defence Investment Plan (DIP). In his letter, Healey said he received the plans in full for the first time “on Monday afternoon this week”. Since the review Starmer has 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”, he said.

Healey’s departure is the latest in a string of ministerial resignations, with the ex-defence minister touted as a potential successor to Starmer. In February, the Telegraph reported that rebel MPs were lining up Healey as a potential “unity candidate”, as some felt Wes Streeting was becoming too toxic.

In May, Streeting resigned amid intense speculation that he would launch a bid to replace Starmer as prime minister. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips also resigned, citing “incremental” slow progress on protecting children from online sexual abuse.

Miatta Fahnbulleh, Alex Davies-Jones and Zubir Ahmed are other ministers who have resigned from the government.

Meanwhile, Andy Burnham is currently contesting the Makerfield byelection in order to win a seat in parliament, enabling him to challenge for Labour leader.

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