John Healey is a friend and a mentor. He is one of the most serious and decent public servants I know. I respect his decision to leave the government today, and I’m grateful for all he’s done for our nation.

BREAKING: This is understood to be a message sent internally to the armed forces by Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton after the defence secretary quit. He says he is looking forward to welcoming John Healey's successor "when they are announced" [radio silence on that front so far which is also highly unusual]: "You will have seen that the Defence Secretary resigned today (Thursday 11 June). There will be much written and said about the armed forces over the next few days. It is important that we remain apolitical and are not drawn into speculation about decisions that are for ministers to make. In uncertain times, it is more important than ever that we stay focused on our duty to defend the UK and its interests across the world without fear or favour. The work our armed forces do matters, and it matters more than it has done for many years. Each day, we stand ready across all domains, at home and overseas. Our Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft safeguard the integrity of UK airspace. The Continuous At Sea Deterrent remains the foundation of our national security, providing an unbroken and credible deterrent. In cyberspace, our people are persistently engaged in defending critical systems and countering those who would do harm to the UK and our allies. Beyond our shores, our Forward Land Forces in Estonia demonstrate both our commitment to NATO and our resolve to deter aggression. And our Special Forces are always ready. I look forward to welcoming our new defence secretary when they are announced. For now, thank you for everything that you do for the nation. You should be rightly proud of the role you play in keeping us safe." Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton Chief of the Defence Staff