When political turbulence overshadows a vital national conversation

What a topical and remarkable 48 hours it was.

Just as the Defence Procurement Conference in Birmingham, attended by 2,500 delegates including SMEs, supply chain primes, politicians and senior military officers, was building to an impressive crescendo, John Healey, the Secretary of State for Defence, resigned, sending shockwaves not just through the conference itself but through political, military and media circles across the UK and beyond.

A day of departures

As the day progressed, two Parliamentary Private Secretaries and the Armed Forces Minister, Al Carns, also resigned. One cannot help but wonder whether, by the time you read this, further resignations will have followed, as the details behind the Defence Investment Plan (DIP), clearly the catalyst for these departures, continue to emerge.

Principle or power?

What concerns me is how much of this represents a genuine act of principle and how much is bound up in the power struggle playing out at the very top of government right now.

With everything happening in the world, this is a grave concern. If what we are witnessing is political manoeuvring designed to sideline principled individuals perceived as a threat by those seeking to seize or retain power, then we are, frankly, living through something that reads like a script from Game of Thrones. Without the dragons, of course, though HMS Dragon does exist, even if she is struggling to remain deployed.

The duty of public servants

Our political leaders are supposed to be public servants first; that is what they tell us, at any rate. And the paramount duty of any government is, as a matter of fact, the protection of its nation.

It is clear that John Healey and Al Carns do not believe we are doing enough to fulfil that duty. Both have been vocal about the need to properly support the service personnel who stand into danger on our behalf. These are creditable and principled positions to hold.

Fissures widening in Whitehall

Whether or not they have been manoeuvred into their respective positions, there is plainly a genuine disagreement within Whitehall about the priorities for taxation and public spending. This is made all the more pressing by a leadership challenge within the Labour Party, the urgent need to address not only the defence of the realm but also a raft of serious economic and fiscal challenges, and deeply worrying instances of civil unrest. The fissures are widening rather than closing.

Time to step up

I am genuinely uncertain where all of this takes us. It would make compelling viewing if it were fiction, but it is not. This is about the safety, security and livelihoods of every one of us.

What is needed now is strong, informed leadership, supported by the very best people, focused on delivering what truly matters.

The events of the past 24 hours have brought that need into sharp focus. It is time for our leaders to learn from this moment, and to step up.