Defence secretary says defence plan won’t be delayed by political uncertainty
Defence secretary Dan Jarvis confirmed the political uncertainty in No 10 would not delay the defence investment plan (Dip).
He told a conference organised by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank: “There will now be a change of prime minister.
“There will be no change in the urgent need to produce the defence investment plan.
“The Dip is a significant, detailed, and vast piece of work.
“The Department has been working on it for 12 months.
“I have had 12 days, but I have made the most of all of them, and I am now working to finalise and publish the Dip before I travel to Ankara (for the Nato summit) with the Prime Minister.”
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 18:00
New MP appears to cross fingers swearing allegiance to King in Parliament
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 17:45
Who is Bev Craig? Andy Burnham’s potential successor
Bev Craig currently serves as a deputy mayor in Greater Manchester with a portfolio covering the economy, business and “inclusive growth”.
She became leader of Manchester City Council in December 2021, succeeding the long-serving Sir Richard Leese in the post.
Originally from Northern Ireland, 41-year-old Ms Craig moved to Greater Manchester aged 18.
She is the city’s first female council leader and its first LGBT leader.
Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council (Alamy/PA)
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 17:43
Labour candidate for Greater Manchester mayor announced
Bev Craig, the leader of Manchester City Council, has been announced as Labour’s candidate in the Greater Manchester mayoral election, after former mayor Andy Burnham returned to Parliament with a view to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister.
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 17:32
Recap: Sir Lindsay Hoyle rebukes senior Tory MP for calling defence secretary a coward
Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has twice rebuked a former Conservative minister for calling defence secretary Dan Jarvis a coward.
Sir Lindsay said he was “offended” by the language, pointing out that Mr Jarvis has served as an officer in the Army.
On Monday last week, Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh criticised the Defence Secretary for not being in the Commons to answer questions about the Defence Investment Plan (Dip).
He said: “When the nation is at risk and the Leader of the opposition asks a question, it is frankly cowardly for the Secretary of State not to turn up. His duty is to be here in our house of commons.”
Sir Lindsay intervened: “Order. I say to the Father of the House that the King has summoned the Secretary of State, and he is with the King at the moment.
“The language he has used about the Secretary of State being cowardly is not called for, and I expect better from the Father of the House.”
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 17:30
Meet ‘action man’ Al Carns – the man who could challenge Andy Burnham for the top job
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 17:00
Starmer and Burnham hold hour-long talks for first time since by-election
The Independent’s political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:
Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham have met and spoken for the first time since the former Manchester mayor’s by-election victory in Makerfield.
The outgoing prime minister and his likely successor had an hour-long “off site” meeting earlier today.It is believed to be the first time the pair have spoken since before the contest last week, which enabled Mr Burnham to return to Westminster.
Downing Street confirmed earlier that Sir Keir agreed prospective leadership candidates, including Mr Burnham, would be allowed to receive government briefings to prepare for power as soon as possible.
The prime minister told his Cabinet he wanted an “orderly transition” and insisted he would try to make the transition “as easy as possible” for his replacement at a weekly meeting on Tuesday morning.
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 16:04
Watch: ‘I can spend it on cars if I want to’, Farage says as he faces grilling over £5m gift’I can spend it on cars if I want to’, Farage says as he faces grilling over £5m gift
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 16:00
No ‘major’ policy decisions to be made during leadership transition
Downing Street has said no “major” new policy decisions or spending pledges would be made during the leadership transition, adding that Sir Keir Starmer would agree priorities with cabinet secretary dame Antonia Romeo in the coming days.
But the defence investment plan (Dip), which has been delayed for months amid wrangling within government over its funding, is one loose end he intends to tie up before leaving office.
His plans to publish the document before the Nato summit on 7 July have the potential to cause friction after The Times reported allies of Mr Burnham believe the decision should fall to the next leader.
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 15:40
Burnham to receive government briefings to prepare for power
Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham will start receiving government briefings to prepare for power as the outgoing prime minister insisted he would seek to “resolve difficult issues” before his successor takes over.
Sir Keir Starmer has authorised civil service access talks to begin with “prospective candidates” in the coming weeks ahead of the change in No 10, Downing Street said.
The prime minister told his cabinet he wanted an “orderly transition” and insisted he would try to make the transition “as easy as possible” for his replacement at a weekly meeting on Tuesday morning.
He said he would “seek to resolve difficult issues in the coming weeks to support his successor”, and “wanted whoever became the next prime minister to succeed”, according to the readout.
Bryony Gooch23 June 2026 15:20