In conversation with John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government

Institute for Government

News, Politics, Government

4.6 • 252 Ratings

🗓️ 18 February 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Institute for Government was delighted to welcome Rt Hon John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, to discuss his priorities for reforming UK defence. With war in Europe, instability in the Middle East and a new US administration, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has taken centre stage during the Labour government’s first six months in power. But with increasing threats, how will the MOD ensure it stays ahead of the UK’s adversaries and deliver maximum value for taxpayers? How will it contribute to the government’s missions, particularly economic growth? Healey opened the event with brief remarks on his defence reform programme, after which he was in conversation with Dr Hannah White, Director and CEO of the Institute for Government, before taking questions from the audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Good morning everyone and welcome to the Institute for Government. My name is Hannah White. I'm the director of the IFG.
0:05.4	And a very big welcome to everyone who's here in the room and everyone joining us online for this Institute for Government event with the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healy.
0:15.4	Well, I don't think there could have been a more opportune time for John to agree to come and speak to us this morning,
0:22.2	with questions about the UK's approach to defence, rocketing up the agenda, with Donald Trump's
0:27.5	return to the White House. We have conflict in the Middle East, paused at least for now,
0:33.0	but war in Europe ongoing. So questions about how the UK equips itself to manage the risks it faces
0:39.1	in the 21st century are amongst the most important in government. I'm delighted John's going
0:44.7	to make a few brief remarks this morning and then I'm going to follow up with some questions
0:49.1	myself before opening up to the floor. Just to say this event is going to run for 45 minutes,
0:55.0	rather than the advertised 60.
0:57.0	I'm sure you'll appreciate that John has quite a lot of other people
1:00.0	he needs to go and talk to.
1:02.0	So I'm sure no one will be offended by that.
1:05.0	But I'm going to hand over.
1:07.0	I thought we were doing 30, actually.
1:10.0	Good morning, everyone. Thank you for being here. I thought we were doing 30 actually.
1:13.6	Good morning everyone. Thank you for being here and let me begin particularly by thanking Hannah White and the Institute for Government for hosting us today.
1:19.6	The Institute for Government in my book plays a really important role in Westminster.
1:25.6	It helps hold ministers to account for what we say
1:30.3	we're going to do as part of that bigger mission to secure in this country better government
1:36.2	for Britain. And I must say when I confirmed this event a few weeks ago, I wouldn't have
1:42.3	expected such interest in MOD reform.
	...

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