Healey moves from Defence to the Treasury after funding row

Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed John Healey as Chancellor on 20 July 2026, days after Healey quit as Defence Secretary over defence funding. The New York Times called it a "surprise pick." Healey now oversees all Whitehall departmental budgets — the same spending he walked out over. He told the BBC: "Fiscal control is the first duty of any chancellor."