The Peace Pledge Union comments on new appointments to the cabinet on Monday (20th July 2026) by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. 

The Peace Pledge union are urging the new Chancellor, John Healey and the new Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting to reject the military-first agenda and invest in the root causes of conflict such as climate breakdown and global poverty. As well as redirect funding in the UK to housing, healthcare, and education.

John Healey's move from Defence Secretary to Chancellor carries an unmistakable message - he resigned from the former post pushing for more military spending, and now controls the nation's purse strings. The Peace Pledge Union, alongside other peace and anti-war organisations, has long argued that military spending rises are sold to the public as unavoidable, while cuts to housing, health, and education are painted as inevitable sacrifices.

This narrative must be challenged. 

Andy Burnham's government has made housing and homelessness a central priority. It is worth noting that over two thousand veteran households are currently at risk of or experiencing homelessness in England - a stark reminder that the human cost of military expansion rarely appears in defence budget announcements.[1]

With the country in a cost of living crisis, we urge Healey to fund welfare, not warfare. We are calling on John Healey and Wes Streeting's departments, and Andy Burnham's government to:

1. Freeze any further increase to the military budget;
2. Redirect funding toward housing, health services, and schools instead of military expansion or recruitment drives in disadvantaged areas;
3. Prioritise diplomatic and conflict-prevention spending;
4. Commit to transparent reporting on where defence capital is actually spent, and why.

Armed force has consistently failed to deliver the security it promises. Lasting safety is built through diplomacy and addressing the causes of conflict - not through growing military might. If this government is serious about building peace and security and improving the lives of ordinary people, both Ministers must invest in welfare not warfare - in people's needs, not arms company profits.

[1] Written Parliamentary Answer on veterans homelessness, Department for Levelling Up, Housing Communities data, 2024-25