John Healey

Chancellor John Healey said military infrastructure projects will lead to a ‘new age of industrialisation’ in Britain. Pictured is HMNB Portsmouth.

'New age of industrialisation' promised due to Royal Navy projects

Prime Minister Andy Burnham

PM accused of ‘north first’ approach by Hampshire mayoral candidate

A concept picture of the Type 31 class of Royal Navy warship. All 5 ships are planned to be in service with the Royal Navy by the early 2030s, but it appears that the Type 32 and Type 83 programme will be scrapped

Plan to replace Royal Navy destroyers is scrapped in favour of drones

A concept picture of the Type 31 class of Royal Navy warship. All 5 ships are planned to be in service with the Royal Navy by the early 2030s, but it appears that the Type 32 and Type 83 programme will be scrapped

Plan to replace Royal Navy destroyers and frigates 'is scrapped'

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivers a speech during a press conference on the eve of a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 17, 2026. He challenged Starmer and all Nato allies to present credible plans for increasing defence spending.

Nato chief challenges Starmer to hike defence spending before deadline

Armed Forces minister Al Carns has followed John Healey in resigning.

'A serious country funds its defence' - Armed Forces minister resigns

John Healey has resigned as Defence Secretary

Fears raised over the future of the Armed Forces due to underfunding

Defence Secretary John Healey

Defence Secretary John Healey resigns

Armed forces personnel will receive 3.6 per cent pay rise

Defence secretary John Healey confirmed that a member of the British Army had died in Iraq.

Member of British Army dies in Iraq as MPs mourn 'sad' incident

An RAF jet carrying defence secretary John Healey has its GPS jammed near the Russian border. Pictured: Image of a Russian Su-35, seen here alongside an RAF Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea in April 2026, a previously incident.

RAF jet carrying MP has GPS signal jammed near Russia

Defence secretary John Healey was involved in a car crash interview where he overestimated the number of frigates and destroyers the Royal Navy has at its disposal.

Bumbling MP claims Navy has 17 frigates and destroyers - it doesn't

The German frigate Sachsen (F219) will assume command of Nato's Standing Maritime Group 1, taking the place of the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon. The Type 45 warship has reached Cyprus after being deployed to the eastern Mediterranean.

Defence Secretary 'not happy' with Royal Navy warship situation

The Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dragon, made a logistical stop at Gibraltar on Tuesday (Mar 17) morning on her way to Cyprus. The destroyer is an air-defence warship and will be tasked with providing the sovereign base at Akrotiri in Cyprus with air defences against drones from Iran. Whilst in Gibraltar, she is expected to take on fuel and supplies before heading into the Mediterranean.

HMS Dragon's current location - and when she may arrive in Cyprus

HMS Dragon being readied in Portsmouth on March 4 ahead of the warship’s deployment to Cyprus.

Union 'reveals reason' why HMS Dragon has not yet left Portsmouth

Stephen Morgan MP

Homes Fit For Heroes: Stephen Morgan MP confirms first wave of military homes in...
Military families in Portsmouth will celebrate Christmas in homes fit for heroes as a first wave of renovations to forces family homes have been completed ahead of schedule.
Jess Smith

Stephen Morgan MP

Portsmouth South MP welcomes Defence Secretary as Government sets out transforma...

Amanda Martin MP training with British Armed Forces

Political comment: Labour's new measures to transform Portsmouth military housin...

12 new nuclear submarines are being produced for the Royal Navy, which have been set out in the Strategic Defence Review.

When will new "state-of-the-art" nuclear submarines enter the fleet?

HMS Albion, an Albion-class landing platform, is among the ships to be decommissioned as part of defence cuts. Defence secretary John Healey said both landing platforms, including HMS Bulwark, were unofficially "retired" but "superficially kept on the books".

Strike ships to replace "unseaworthy" former flagships soon

The former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Sir Benjamin Key, stepped back amid claims of ‘affair with subordinate’ it has been alleged

Head of Royal Navy steps back amid ‘affair with subordinate’ claims

Reports in the Mail on Sunday said HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are due to be sold in a cut-price deal worth £20m, despite millions being spent on returning them to the fleet.

"Militarily illiterate": HMS Albion and Bulwark could be sold for £20m

RFA Proteus monitoring Russian ship Yantar in November 2024. The Russian spy ship was spotted again in the south coast and English Channel, with HMS Tyne and HMS Somerset being deployed to shadow her.

Russian spy ship Yantar incursion "concerning" - Royal Navy deployed

Britain's Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Jonathan Reynolds arrives to give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. Credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images

'Losing city space jobs will be as painful as scrapping shipbuilding'

Defence secretary John Healey has defended the decision to decommission HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, stating they were "mothballed". Both ships were officially cut from the fleet before the conclusion of the Strategic Defence Review.

Snap cuts of HMS Albion and Bulwark challenged - Royal Marines impact

The UK will see faster testing of hypersonic systems and long-range strike missiles following a new Aukus deal. Pictured is defence secretary John Healey.

Faster development of hypersonic weapons announced in new deal

German planes will operate on British soil after a defence pact was agreed by the UK and Germany. Pictured is Defence Secretary John Healey (centre right) and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius before signing a new UK-Germany Defence Agreement at Trinity House in London.

German planes to operate on British soil after "milestone" pact agreed
German planes will operate from a base in the UK under a defence pact with Berlin being signed on Wednesday.
Freddie Webb

Defence secretary John Healey, and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, held heated discussions in parliament about the state of Britain's armed forces. The Strategic Defence Review was outlined.

Defence secretary lambasts ex-Tory regime for state of armed forces

HMS Prince Of Wales departing from Portsmouth ahead of her major deployment in the North Sea. She has linked up with Norwegian forces for the first time as part of the deployment.

HMS Prince of Wales links up with Norwegian ship ahead of exercise

Defence Secretary John Healey (center), US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin (right), and Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speak during a press conference at the AUKUS Defence Ministers Meeting at Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London.

Crucial negotiations to build more nuclear submarines to begin

HMS Duncan will be on standby in the eastern Mediterranean as plans are being drawn up to evacuate Britons from Lebanon. Fighting is escalating between Israel and Hezbollah.

Royal Navy and army assets on standby amid evacuation plans in Lebanon

Defence Secretary John Healey said the Royal Navy is facing a “serious problem” of not having enough sailors to staff warships.

Defence secretary admits Royal Navy doesn't have enough sailors

Defence Secretary John Healey praised the “ground-breaking” developments of the Aukus partnership with Australia and USA..

"Significant" Aukus defence deal hailed as most important in 60 years

Sir Stephen Lovegrove has become Whitehall's Aukus adviser, which Defence Secretary John Healey said would "help maximise the benefits" of the tripartite defence deal. Pictured is Sir Stephen Lovegrove, formerly National Security Adviser, Cabinet Office, after being made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to National Security, by the Princess Royal during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, Berkshire.

Ex-top security adviser to steer "breakthrough" defence trade deal

The Ministry of Defence has announced a major trade deal with Aukus allies worth £500m. Pictured is foreign secretary David Lammy.

"Breakthrough" defence trade deal worth £500m secured by MoD

The Ministry of Defence have issued an update regarding HMS Prince of Wales and her deployment to Japan in 2025. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Crucial HMS Prince of Wales Japan deployment update issued by MoD

The veterans minister role has been moved back into the Ministry of Defence, after the role allowed them to previously appear in cabinet. Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan and Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage have differing opinions on the decision.

Veterans minister role moved from cabinet - MPs clash over decision

The Royal Navy, British Army and RAF have been accused of fighting amongst themselves by new defence secretary John Healey.

Royal Navy, Army and RAF urged to not fight each other by government

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un toast during a reception at the Mongnangwan Reception House in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. Photo by VLADIMIR SMIRNOV/POOL/AFP - Russian state agency Sputnik - via Getty Images.

"Deadly quartet" of threats faces UK - urgent military review called

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria board a plane at Stansted Airport in Essex as they head to Washington DC to attend a Nato summit. The Labour government has been criticised over a lack of timescale for when the UK will increase its defence spending.

New PM slammed over lack of defence spending "clarity"

Tests of laser weapons will no longer be carried out on a Type 23 frigate. This follows tests of the Dragonfire laser weapon system. Picture: GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images.

Laser weapon will not be tested on warship after plans scrapped

An early image of what the Type 31 general purpose frigate could look like. The Type 32 is expected to take inspiration from the Type 31's design. In the most recent National Audit Office report, it was revealed that the MoD is running a near £17bn deficit on its defence equipment plan, with the new entries into the ship-building pipeline being unaffordable by £5.9bn. Photo: BAE Systems

Defence equipment plan has £17bn spending "blackhole"

Migrants are brought into Dover docks by Border Force staff on September 9, 2021 in Dover, England (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Royal Navy mission to stop migrants crossing the English Channel will cost £50m

The documents are said to contain details about HMS Defender and the military (Photo: Getty Images)

Sensitive Ministry of Defence documents found by member of public at a bus stop

D-Day veteran Joe Cattini (98) escorted by Portsmouth Sea Cadet Hayden Temperton (13). Picture: Mike Cooter (250621)

D-Day hero given a guard of honour as he tours city's harbour

Fake: GPS tracking data which appeared to show HMS Defender and a Dutch frigate charging towards a Russian naval base.

GPS data showing navy warship charging at Russian naval base was 'fake' says MOD

Pictured: Royal Marines from 45 Commando XRAY Company FSG (Fire Support Group) and members of ASG (Armoured Support Group) fire heavy weapons in Norway 2021. Photo: LPhot James Clarke

Defence shake-up to overhaul Royal Marines and move city warship to Gibraltar

The UK will invest an extra £16.5bn in military defence spending - here's why

Crowds gather at The Round Tower to watch HMS Queen Elizabeth depart from Portsmouth on April 29. Photo: Habibur Rahman

QE sets sail after ship's crew is tested for Covid-19

HMS Queen Elizabeth

Picture: Sarah Standing (010419-4445)

Planned sailing of HMS Queen Elizabeth postponed to allow Covid-19 testing

Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South. Picture: Habibur Rahman

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan promoted to Labour's shadow armed forces mini...

Millions of families could be protected from eviction amid the coronavirus crisis.

Coronavirus: Government must protect millions of families from eviction amid Cov...

Government rough sleeping figures are understated according to a BBC report (Getty Images)

Levels of homelessness in the UK are actually five times higher than official re...

Shadow housing minister John Healey,, left, with Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan, during a trip to Leamington House. The housing minister was touring the city to find out more about problem Portsmouth was having with it's social housing waiting lists. Photo: Tom Cotterill

Portsmouth housing waiting list would take ‘almost 80 years’ to clear at its cur...

The government has a 100m plan to end rough sleeping. Picture: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

NATIONAL: Government to spend Â£100m to '˜end rough sleeping'