The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer’s own ministers decided he was failing to meet it. The lunchtime resignation of John Healey, the Defence Secretary, was followed in the evening by a rocket from Al Carns, the Armed Forces minister.  This is following the Defence Review where Labour have failed to provide the necessary funding.

John Healey’s dramatic exit from the Cabinet may have come as a surprise to his friends in Westminster, who know him as one of the most loyal Labour men in the land.

It might not be that shocking for those on the inside of the defence investment plan talks, who have witnessed months of bitter negotiation over the extent of military funding increases. Or to readers of this newsletter, which reported yesterday morning on tensions between Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves and Ed Miliband over how to plug the spending hole. Healey’s departure is a savage blow to Starmer’s authority and lays bare the implacable differences between the former defence secretary and Rachel Reeves, who has rejected requests for more money.

Last night, only a few hours after Healey’s letter, Al Carns resigned as Armed Forces minister, citing similar concerns over a “failure” to commit proper funding to the military.

Starmer’s opponents say that he is now a prime minister in office, but not in power. Kemi Badenoch says he is a “lame duck”. His allies claim Reeves is at fault, but that he can do nothing to rein her in. This is a dire position for a prime minister, and has only fuelled expectations that Andy Burnham will replace him next month. This may have only been a row about defence spending, but it could soon be remembered as the final days of Starmer’s political life.

What on earth does it take for Starmer to steel himself to spend enough on defence? That is the vital question posed by John Healey and Al Carns’s resignations.

If Vladimir Putin’s onslaught against Ukraine, the raging crisis in the Middle East and Donald Trump shaking the very foundations of Western security are insufficient, then heaven knows what might budge our paralysed Prime Minister. The tragedy is that even if Dan Jarvis, who was appointed last night as Healey’s successor, manages to convince Starmer to spend what he must – the Government has already wasted the past two years. Britain could have spent that time rearming and insuring itself against the worst. Many of our European allies have been doing exactly that. Instead, thanks to Starmer, these are the years the locusts ate.

Resist comment.  Labour are only interested in migrants and muslims, not the defence of the nation.  We need to RESIST, RESIST, RESIST.  Have nothing to do with migrants and muslims.  FIGHT to have them all removed from the country.