Healey wanted UK to join global defence bank, BBC told

Former Defence Secretary John Healey was privately pushing for the UK to join an international investment bank to raise more money for defence spending, BBC News has been told.

Allies of Healey claim the Treasury tried to shut down negotiations for the UK to join the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), an idea spearheaded by Canada.

In his resignation letter Healey said there were "credible ways" to fund extra defence spending, including "working multi-nationally".

A government spokesperson said they were exploring setting up a "multilateral defence mechanism" with Finland, the Netherlands and others "to improve value for money" in defence procurement will allies.

Meanwhile, Treasury sources claimed Healey never submitted an official request for funding related to the UK's membership of the DSRB.

The DSRB, which aims to help member countries fund defence projects at low costs, is expected to be officially launched at a Nato summit next month.

Membership of the bank for the UK and other G7 countries would come with an upfront investment cost of around £870m spread over three years.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, who has been pushing the idea on the global stage, is said to be keen for the UK to join the project.

Ministers have been mulling it for months but the chancellor is thought to have been unwilling to pay.

Healey resigned as defence secretary on Wednesday, saying the amount of money attached to the government's upcoming Defence Investment Plan fell "well short" of what was needed.

Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC on Friday he had made "hard-edged" choices on defence spending, including asking government departments to make cuts to help pay for it. The Defence Investment Plan has yet to be announced.

Healey said Number 10 and the Treasury were prepared to give around £10bn in additional money in this plan, around £18bn less than what military chiefs have reportedly asked for.

It is understood Healey believed joining the DSRB could have helped bridge a funding gap as well as supporting British businesses in the defence sector.

A group of defence-focused Labour MPs have been lobbying ministers to look more closely at the DSRB for months.

One advocate of the UK joining the bank said it was likely that the up-front cost would have to be paid for by borrowing.

Earlier this week Chancellor Rachel Reeves indicated she was not in favour of borrowing more money to increase defence spending.

But other DSRB supporters say the money should instead be viewed by ministers as an investment.

One idea being pushed by some MPs is for membership of the DSRB to be funded through the National Wealth Fund, a Treasury-owned investment vehicle.

MPs on Parliament's Business and Trade Select Committee visited Canada last week to discuss the DSRB.

Liam Byrne, the Labour MP who chairs the committee, has written to the prime minister asking if he will look again at the DSRB in light of Healey's resignation.

The Canadian High Commissioner to the UK told Politico Gordon Brown, who is advising the prime minister on global finance, has held direct talks with Carney about the DSRB.

Supporters hope it will lead to direct low-cost lending to governments as well as credit guarantees for commercial banks that give loans to defence companies.

But some in Whitehall have raised concerns the model being offered would be more likely to benefit smaller economies with lower credit ratings.

The Treasury has been contacted for comment.