Politics Home Article | Al Carns leadership hopes fade as MPs rally behind Burnham

Al Carns, former armed forces minister. (Alamy)

3 min read19 min

The appetite for a contested leadership race has diminished in recent days after Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Prime Minister, ruled himself out of a contest earlier this week. 

Jones had been regarded by many MPs as the only figure capable of mounting a credible challenge to Burnham.

Carns, the former armed forces minister, has fuelled speculation about his own intentions following his resignation last week over a lack of new funding for the military. Since leaving government, he has embarked on a tour of broadcast studios calling for a national conversation about Labour’s future direction — a campaign that some colleagues interpret as an informal pitch for the leadership.

Although Carns has yet to formally declare his candidacy, PoliticsHome understands that he has spent recent weeks sounding out MPs about potential support. He previously signalled his willingness to enter a contest, saying: “If someone fires the starting gun, I’m not afraid of gunfire.”

Yet few of his parliamentary colleagues appear convinced.

“Everyone really likes and respects Al but he is beginning to look a little bit silly,” one Labour MP in favour of a contest said.

Several MPs question whether Carns, who has been in Parliament for less than two years, possesses the political experience required to lead the party into a general election.

His resignation has also angered some supporters of Starmer, who believe Carns and his former cabinet colleague John Healey accelerated the chain of events that led to the former prime minister’s departure.

A minister who had previously supported Carns’ leadership ambitions said they had now “lost trust” in the former Marine.

Another Labour MP was equally dismissive of Carns’ prospects. “He obviously isn’t a credible candidate for PM,” the MP said.

A third described the manoeuvring as a bid for “attention”.

Several close allies of Starmer who had hoped for a leadership contest and backed Jones as a potential challenger have told PoliticsHome they would not transfer their support to the former minister.

“The fundamental difference between Darren’s campaign and Al’s campaign is that Darren could have got the numbers to challenge. Al was never going to get more than a handful of MPs,” said one MP involved in organising support for Jones.

As support for a contest wanes, many MPs increasingly regard Burnham’s victory as a foregone conclusion.

One Labour MP described it as a “fait accompli” and said the party’s priority should now be unity.

“We need a smooth transition that’s as bloodless as possible,” the MP said.

Another points out: “Andy is going to win anyway.”

Even among those willing to consider backing Carns, support appears motivated less by enthusiasm for his candidacy than by broader concerns about Labour’s future economic direction.

One MP said they would consider supporting Carns as a protest against the prospect of Ed Miliband becoming Chancellor, while acknowledging that the former minister was likely “positioning” himself for a future role as defence secretary.

Indeed, for many Labour MPs the real struggle now concerns not who occupies No 10, but who controls economic policy from No 11.

Concerns about the possibility of Miliband becoming chancellor is a key concern among many of Jones’ former supporters. When Jones ruled out a leadership bid earlier this week, he said it was in part because he had received assurances from Burnham, particularly on economic policy.

As one Jones backer put it: “Everyone can see that the real contest is over the occupant of No 11, not No 10.”

Al Carns was contacted for comment.