Defence Secretary says armed forces must be ‘fit to fight’ and drop rivalries

Defence Secretary John Healey told armed forces personnel that ‘the days that we can indulge in inter-service rivalry are over’.

Defence Secretary John Healey speaking at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) Land Warfare Conference 2024, at Church House in Westminster, central London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire)

The Defence Secretary has told the army, air force and Royal Navy they must be “fit to fight” and not fight among themselves.

John Healey praised personnel at the Rusi Land Warfare Conference for their “vital work” in the face of an “insecure world”.

He said: “As this world becomes more dangerous, we are relying more heavily on your bravery and on your professionalism.

“But the principle of ‘one defence’ also becomes increasingly more important.

“The days that we can indulge in inter-service rivalry are over.

I really want to see the old rivalries left behind. I really want with you to establish a new era of UK defence

John Healey

“We must be to fit to fight – not fight amongst ourselves.

“I really want to see the old rivalries left behind. I really want with you to establish a new era of UK defence.

“Because we know all three services face very serious challenges.”

The Defence Secretary listed issues including “procurement waste, low morale, a recruitment and retention crisis and veterans who can’t access the services they deserve”.

In the King’s Speech last week, the Government announced a proposal to appoint an armed forces tsar to represent the military and their families. The tsar will have powers to investigate potential problems in service life such as poor accommodation and faulty kit.

Mr Healey also said the army’s input will be vital for the strategic defence review the Labour Government plans to carry out.

The review will help to set out a roadmap to reach defence spending of 2.5% of GDP, which the Government has said it is committed to but has not set a timeline for.