Al Carns: From Royal Marine to Potential Labour Leader

Following the Mandelson affair that threatens Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s tenure, Labour insiders have discussed Al Carns as a possible successor. Some view him as a fresh alternative capable of revitalising the party; others question the realism of his candidacy.

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Carns, from Aberdeen, joined the Royal Marines at 19 and completed the 32-week Commando course twice, including the final 30-mile march. He served in the Special Boat Service on four Afghanistan tours, earned a Military Cross (2011), OBE (2022) and DSO (2025), declined a brigadier promotion and was elected Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak in 2024.

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Key figures include Al Carns; Admiral Lord West, former Royal Navy commander; an unnamed Labour MP; a government source who worked with Carns; and former Marine friend Anthony “Staz” Stazicker.

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The 32-week Commando course ends with a 30-mile march and has a 40 % attrition rate. Carns, 46, holds a Military Cross (2011), OBE (2022) and DSO (2025). He entered Parliament in 2024 and is the only 2024 intake MP to seek deputy leadership. Labour pledged defence spending of 2.5 % of GDP by April 2025.

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Admiral Lord West publicly welcomed a military figure in senior politics, describing the DSO as a rare honour. A Labour MP expressed caution, noting public enthusiasm for a military leader does not guarantee serious leadership discussions. Carns has urged increased defence spending and defended unchanged Commando standards.

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Critics within Labour argue Carns’s brief parliamentary tenure limits his credibility, with one MP questioning the seriousness of any leadership talk. Others note the slim odds of a newcomer replacing a sitting Prime Minister amid internal party turbulence.

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Details of Carns’s Special Boat Service missions remain undisclosed for national security reasons. Sources confirm a DSO award but cannot specify the operation’s location, describing the information as “not clear exactly where it was.”

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• “That’s why my knees creak so much,” — Al Carns, interview with Dodge Woodall

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• “I’m delighted that a military man is being thought about like this,” — Admiral Lord West, former commander in chief of the Royal Navy

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• “without a doubt one of the most astute individuals to have worked within defence” — Government source who worked with Carns

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• “And a military source with knowledge of Carns and his DSO said: “That’s a very serious award.” — Military source familiar with Carns’s DSO

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Labour’s leadership timetable remains uncertain, but Carns is expected to feature in upcoming internal discussions. Observers will watch whether he pursues the deputy leadership or positions himself for a future prime ministerial bid, while continuing to advocate for higher defence spending.

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