See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 14:36 BST, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 14:45 BST, 23 July 2026
Al Carns, the former Armed Forces minister, has snubbed a return to Government under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham as he warned a row over military funding is still not settled.The former Royal Marine quit his role in the Ministry of Defence last month following John Healey's explosive exit as defence secretary.It came amid a furious Whitehall dispute about funding for Labour's long-delayed Defence Investment Plan.Both Mr Healey's exit and Mr Carns' departure played a significant part in Keir Starmer's eventual downfall as prime minister.But while Mr Healey has now returned to Government as Chancellor under Mr Burnham, Mr Carns said he won't be taking up a ministerial role again.This is despite the Birmingham Selly Oak MP - known for taking part in a record-breaking ascent of Mount Everest last year - having been offered a job in another Whitehall department as part of Mr Burnham's new administration.It has been reported that Mr Carns was offered the role of prisons minister in the Ministry of Justice.In a post on social media, Mr Carns said: 'I had a good conversation with the Chief Whip today where she offered me a return to Government. After careful thought, I declined, with respect and with thanks.' Al Carns, the former Armed Forces minister, has snubbed a return to Government under new Prime Minister Andy Burnham as he warned a row over military funding is still not settledMr Carns added: 'I resigned in June because I did not believe the defence funding on the table was adequate for the threats this country faces. I said so publicly and I still stand by every word.'I've always said I would serve where I am asked. In normal circumstances, that is exactly what I would do, but the argument I resigned over has not yet been settled.'To take another role now, in another department, would suggest that it has. Until the country is spending what it needs to spend on its own defence, my job is to keep making that case, honestly and constructively, from the backbenches.'The appointment of John Healey as Chancellor changes the picture in one important respect. John resigned for the same reasons I did.'He is a man of his word and he has made it clear that he will deliver on the commitments that led him to leave government in the first place.'The PM knows exactly what John stands for and that appointment is meaningful and I welcome it.'Earlier on Wednesday, Natalie Fleet resigned as safeguarding minister saying she found the role 'overwhelmingly triggering'.The Labour MP for Bolsover, who was groomed and raped as a teenager, said she had done the 'bravest thing' in telling Mr Burnham she was stepping down.Ms Fleet has previously spoken about her experience of being groomed at the age of 15 by an older man, who raped her, which resulted in her becoming pregnant.Elsewhere, Mike Tapp said he will no longer serve as the Home Office minister for migration.He said he was 'disappointed to be leaving government', and had remained 'loyal to Keir Starmer until the end'.The junior minister found himself embroiled in a row with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood towards the end of Sir Keir's tenure, after he suggested exempting care workers from her indefinite leave to remain reforms.Environment minister Mary Creagh also announced she would be stepping down as Mr Burnham carries out a wide-ranging reshuffle.'I'm very sorry to be leaving government but that's politics,' the MP for Coventry East said. 'I will be supporting our new prime minister from the back benches.'Early education minister Olivia Bailey also announced she was leaving the Government.
