Labour MPs should “skip a generation” and install Al Carns as prime minister, supporters of the former defence minister told The i Paper.
Carns quit Sir Keir Starmer’s Government on Thursday night, just hours after the resignation of his boss, Defence Secretary John Healey, after a months-long row over military spending. On Friday Carns accused the prime minister of not spending enough money on defence and spending it on the wrong weapons.
Carns has already made it clear he will stand for the Labour leadership if there is a contest, although his allies say he really wants the job of Defence Secretary. He is a former special forces commander who served five tours in Afghanistan and has been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and entered Parliament in 2024.
Shorts
“It’s time to skip a generation and have a fresh face,” a Labour MP told The i Paper. A second Labour MP added: “Older people who did their politics in opposition need to stand out of the way. There is a lot of chatter around about putting up a ’24 candidate. Perhaps Al is the guy. This could be his route to Defence Secretary.”
