The thing that is so bewildering is that in Munich in February Keir Starmer gave one of his best speech as PM where he appeared to define his premiership on rebuilding UK defence credibility and taking a leadership role in Europe. Time and time again Starmer has said security is the point of his premiership. Insecurity is his main argument against changing leader.
Rather than find a few extra billion to meet that rhetoric he has taken a political decision not to, siding not only with the Treasury but also inexplicably with the Labour welfare rebels who sunk his premiership. It means he is left with Ed Miliband in his cabinet, who has agitated for his downfall, and no John Healey. How has he managed that?
NEW: Inside John Healey's resignation talks
Healey told Starmer that an increase of just 0.08 per cent of GDP to defence would not keep the country safe.
Starmer offered £13.5bn on defence, of which just £10bn was new money from the Treasury. He also refused to commit to reaching three per cent of GDP by any specific date, with the Treasury pushing for 2034-5.
It is understood Downing Street only gave Healey a copy of the approved plan on Monday, and tried to rush its publication out today.
But Healey told Starmer that the settlement of just £13.5bn was not enough, and that it would put the lives of British personnel at risk. He called for more time to allow the plan to be reworked. No10 refused.
It is understood that Healey favoured a "multilateral" defence spending offer, similar to other efforts by 17 European countries. He argued in talks with Sir Keir that only a larger settlement would protect Labour's defence agenda. The Treasury has opposed those plans.
Healey also argued that the global situation has changed since Labour's strategic defence review last year, pointing to a call from Nato for the alliance to be ready for conflict with Russia by 2030, which is earlier than was previously planned.
However, the deal Starmer offered the MoD did not commit to bringing defence spending to three per cent of GDP by any specific date, which Healey and defence chiefs had argued was required to keep the threat from Russia at bay.
In his meetings with Starmer, it is understood that Healey was told the Treasury wanted the MoD to only reach three per cent of GDP by the 2034-5 financial year, which he said would breach a commitment Starmer made to Parliament in April.
Follow the latest in @Telegraph live blog here: https://t.co/wLBpuOAx3j