Australia news live: Richard Marles left adrift as UK counterpart quits hours before scheduled visit to naval yard

Australia’s defence minister had been due to visit a naval base in Portsmouth with British defence secretary John Healey. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBritain’s defence secretary, John Healey, has abruptly quit the Starmer government, in another blow to the leader’s teetering authority.Our UK colleagues have all the coverage (it was apparently over a new defence spending plan that Healey considered didn’t “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats”):I have deeply valued the close and collaborative working relationship with my good friend John Healey as Secretary of Defence, as I have with his predecessors on the Australia-UK defence relationship. I have worked closely with all of them particularly in respect of Aukus.Our defence relationship is enduring, with deep connections, values and shared interests. Continue reading...