Al Carns, a former Royal Marine colonel and decorated Special Forces officer, resigned as armed forces minister, citing insufficient funding for the Defence Investment Plan. He criticized the government's approach to military modernization and the treatment of Northern Ireland veterans, while not ruling out a future Labour leadership bid.
A former Royal Marine colonel and decorated Special Forces officer has resigned as armed forces minister, warning that the government's defence investment plan lacks the necessary funding and fails to address modern warfare challenges.
Al Carns, who stepped down late last night following defence secretary John Healey's resignation, did not rule out a future bid for the Labour leadership, sparking speculation about his political ambitions. In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Carns insisted his resignation was a matter of principle rather than ambition, stating that his entire career has been devoted to service.
He argued that the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is not 'transformational' enough and does not allocate sufficient resources for the evolving nature of conflict, as demonstrated by the Ukraine war where drones have become decisive. Carns also criticized the treatment of Northern Ireland veterans under the Legacy Bill, adding to the list of grievances that led to his departure.
Carns, who earned a Military Cross for gallantry in Afghanistan and served in the elite Special Boat Service, described the funding shortfall as a critical issue. Service chiefs had called for around 28 billion pounds over four years, but the DIP promised only 13.5 billion, with defence sources claiming that 3.5 billion of that figure was 'Treasury trickery' from expected efficiency savings.
Carns emphasized the need for an honest conversation with the public about the threats the country faces and called for bold decisions to allocate funding appropriately. He suggested that welfare reform could free up cash, advocating for a system that offers 'hands up, not hand out' while still supporting those in need. The former officer, who was sidelined from the DIP process, also highlighted that both the level of funding and the type of equipment being procured are problematic.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's authority has suffered a further blow with these resignations, coming after a period of internal party unrest. Carns, however, insisted that Starmer should remain in place to 'steady the ship', but he did not explicitly rule out a future leadership bid, saying 'I haven't even received my P45 from the last job yet and we'll see what happens in the future.
' His potential candidacy is seen as a long shot, as polls consistently place him near the bottom in support among Labour members. Nonetheless, his resignation and outspoken criticism have added to the challenges facing the government as it grapples with defence spending priorities. Carns joined the Royal Marines straight from school and later transferred to the Special Boat Service, where he was decorated for gallantry.
His near-death experience in Afghanistan, where a Taliban round missed him by inches, underscores the personal risks he took in service of his country. Now, his move to resign over a matter of principle has positioned him as a potential voice for reform in the Labour Party
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