Chief of the Defence staff 'looks forward' to working with new Defence Secretary
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defence Staff, has said that he "looks forward to working with the new Secretary of State to implement his programme for defence".
Labour's John Healey has been appointed Defence Secretary after serving as shadow defence secretary since 2020.
The head of the Armed Forces hailed "a peaceful election" on X. He said the "swift and dignified transition of power from one administration to the next is a source of strength and continuity for Britain in a tumultuous world".
Mr Healey has pledged to set out a path to raise defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product, but the details of precisely when that might be are unknown.
A full review has also been promised into the state of the Armed Forces and global threats within the next 12 months.
Former defence secretary Ben Wallace took to X to congratulate Mr Healey on his new role – while also taking a swipe at the Treasury.
Mr Wallace, defence secretary between 2019 and 2023, said: "We agreed on much in my time. Our adversaries might be overseas or active here in the UK. But it is always the Treasury 'that lies beneath'!!"
The former British Army officer stood down as an MP at this election but made little secret of his desire to boost the defence budget while he was in office.
Mr Healey also received well wishes from the former Armed Forces minister James Heappey, who posted on X that the appointment was great to see.
He said: "He'll have a massive head start having shadowed the department so successfully for so long."
Related topics
Join Our Newsletter
