Al Carns: Ex-Special Forces Colonel and Rising Labour Minister with Leadership Ambitions
Al Carns, aged 45, is the Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Selly Oak and a former Royal Marines officer, notably described as an ex-special forces colonel. He was awarded the Military Cross in 2011 for gallantry during operations in Afghanistan between October 2010 and March 2011. After serving 24 years in the armed forces, Carns resigned to pursue a career in politics as a Labour candidate. Immediately following the 2024 election, he was appointed junior veterans minister and was promoted in September 2025 to a senior armed forces minister with responsibility over the entire military portfolio.
Carns' political involvement predates his election, having served as a military adviser to former defence secretaries Penny Mordaunt, Michael Fallon, and Gavin Williamson. He has publicly warned of a looming war with Russia, urging national mobilisation, adopting rhetoric even sharper than the current defence secretary on this issue. Carns has also been active in opposition to Russia in relation to attacks connected to Reform and the Nathan Gill bribery conviction, advocating for a tougher stance.
He is considered by some MPs as a potential future Labour leadership candidate, although there is caution regarding his political ambition, lack of top-level political experience, and the fact that there is currently no vacancy for the prime ministership. Leadership discussions around the September deputy contest saw Downing Street backing Bridget Phillipson, with some MPs coalescing around Lucy Powell.
Beyond politics and military service, Carns and former colleagues completed a Mount Everest climb in under five days without acclimatisation, reportedly aided by xenon gas, a feat described as a world record.
