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Analysis

July 22, 2026

UK defence tech has ‘high hopes’ for new finance minister John Healey

Founders and investors say appointment 'signals seriousness' to NATO allies


The surprise appointment of former defence secretary John Healey as the UK’s new finance minister has been met with praise among some of the country’s defence tech insiders, citing his previous advocacy for greater military spending.  

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Anne Sraders

Anne Sraders is a senior reporter at Sifted, based in Berlin. She covers the VC industry and deeptech startups. She also writes Sifted's weekly VC newsletter Up Round. Follow her on X and LinkedIn

Martin Coulter

Martin Coulter is Sifted's news editor, based in London. You can follow him on LinkedIn and X

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