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techUK responds to the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey and what it means for the delayed Defence Investment Plan. 

Following the resignation of John Healey as Secretary of State for Defence on 11 June, techUK sets out the impact the delay is having on the UK Defence Tech industry: 

techUK welcomes Dan Jarvis as Secretary of State for Defence and looks forward to engaging with him through the Defence Industrial Joint Council at what is a critical moment for the UK. 

John Healey's resignation — and that of Armed Forces Minister Al Carns — is a stark signal. When a Defence Secretary resigns because the Treasury is unwilling to fund what the nation needs to defend itself, industry must take note. The UK faces genuine and growing threats, and credible, digitised armed forces are not optional — they are essential. The UK's DefTech sector stands ready to deliver, but readiness requires investment. 

The industrial base is being eroded. Every day of delay costs capability, contracts, and skilled jobs — and yesterday's events have accelerated that erosion. As techUK's own member survey published last week made clear, the prolonged delay to the Defence Investment Plan has inflicted serious and ongoing damage on industry confidence. 

The DIP must now deliver — with urgency. Not broad ambition or high-level targets, but concrete, funded programmes of record with clear routes to market. The Prime Minister's commitment to reach 3% of GDP on defence by 2029 must be backed by a credible spending trajectory that allows companies, including SMEs, to align investment, build pipelines, and recruit and develop the skills the sector needs.  

A change of Secretary of State cannot become a further reason for delay. An appropriately costed and fully funded DIP must be published now. 

For more on the work of techUK's defence programme, please contact Programme Manager Jeremy Wimble.