Healey becomes Chancellor days after quitting as Defence Secretary over funding

Andy Burnham appointed John Healey as Chancellor on 20 July 2026, shortly after Healey resigned as Defence Secretary citing insufficient defence funding. The New York Times called the appointment a "surprise pick". Healey now controls departmental spending across Whitehall — the same budgets he walked out over. He told the BBC: "Fiscal control is the first duty of any chancellor."