Who is in at the Ministry of Defence following Labour's landslide election win
Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party swept to victory in the General Election, ousting the Conservatives after 14 years of Tory rule.
Just as there has been a change in Number 10, the new Prime Minister has wasted no time announcing his cabinet – including appointments at the Ministry of Defence.
But who has come into the department, what is their role and what has their previous political career looked like?
John Healey – Secretary of State for Defence
Having served for four years as Sir Keir Starmer's shadow defence secretary, Mr Healey has already addressed the men and women of the Armed Forces and visited Ukraine.
The 65-year-old served in the Blair-Brown governments as well as the shadow cabinets of Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Healey has consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system.
He also said that while there has been a change in Government, "there will be no change in Britain's resolve to stand with Ukraine, confront Russian aggression and to pursue Putin for his war crimes".
Mr Healey voted for UK air strikes in Iraq to support Iraqi forces' efforts against ISIL in 2014, but voted against UK military action in Syria the following year.
Alistair Carns – Minister for Veterans
Alistair Carns has been appointed the new Veterans Minister – although he will not sit in Cabinet but instead run the Office for Veterans' Affairs with oversight from the Defence Secretary.
The former Royal Marine served in the military for 24 years before quitting at the end of May, just weeks before the general election, to stand as the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak.
Col Carns was awarded the Military Cross for his actions while serving in Afghanistan.
Luke Pollard - Minister for the Armed Forces
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport MP Luke Pollard has been appointed Minister for the Armed Forces.
The son of a Royal Navy veteran, Mr Pollard told Forces News that improving military accommodation is a top priority for the Government.
Mr Pollard has regularly voted in favour of motions which strengthen the Military covenant, such as a motion to waive immigration fees for non-UK citizens in the Armed Forces and to increase standards of service accommodation.
Maria Eagle – Minister of State in the MOD
Serving in the same role as Lord Coaker, Maria Eagle will also assist the Defence Secretary.
Just like Mr Healey, she also served in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, before later serving in the shadow cabinets of Ed Miliband and Jeremy Corbyn.
Ms Eagle is currently the Labour MP for Liverpool Garston.
She too has consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system and for the use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas
Lord Coaker – Minister of State in the MOD
Appointed as a Minister of State in the MOD, Lord Vernon Coaker was the MP for Gedling, Nottinghamshire, between 1997 and 2019, before he became a Lord.
Before Labour took power, he served as the shadow Defence and Home Office Lead.
As a Minister of State, Lord Coaker will assist Mr Healey in his role as Defence Secretary.
When it comes to defence voting, Lord Coaker has consistently voted for replacing Trident with a new nuclear weapons system and for the use of UK military forces in combat operations overseas.
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