[Abernathy]

It’s becoming quite apparent, I think, that Carns does have serious designs on becoming Prime Minister, and sooner rather than later.

Hence, it’s time for him to get his own Mailwatch thread.

But I still know almost nothing about him. Scottish (like me! ). A hard bastard (unlike me !). An all-action decorated military hero (definitely not like me). I think his politics might be described as right-of-centre, and he probably gives Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Burgon conniptions.

I’m also not really sure how much support he has, both in the PLP, which he needs to be able to get into any leadership contest, and across the party membership, which of course has the final say in who gets the leadership.

But there does seem to be a sense of a Carns bandwagon beginning to roll.

Any thoughts, Mailwatchers ?

[The Weeping Angel]

Didn't he say he wasn't going to stand? A lot of it is just hype; he's a decent MP, but he's not ready to be PM.

[Youngian]

Have to see more of this guy to make a call but don't expect the 'sport are troops' brigade to switch to Labour because they've put Captain Hurricane in charge. Those wankers would still put Farage into No 10 even if he was caught red handed taking Kremlin cash.

If Putin is intending to expand his war onto NATO turf, I'd be even less enthusiastic about having Burnham in charge. When he is ever uttered anything related to defence or geopolitics?

[Tubby Isaacs]

The resignations were over £4.5bn over 5 years. Was it really worth all this bother? I’m sure Healey has already compromised but so has Reeves. Where does he suggest she get the extra money from?

[Abernathy]

Didn't he say he wasn't going to stand? A lot of it is just hype; he's a decent MP, but he's not ready to be PM.

He was a bit metaphorical about it - some bollocks about not being afraid of gunfire when the starting gun gets fired - but I think it's very clear he does intend to go for it.

[Boiler]

If Putin is intending to expand his war onto NATO turf, I'd be even less enthusiastic about having Burnham in charge. When he is ever uttered anything related to defence or geopolitics?

To Burnham, geopolitics is "outside Manchester".

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Carns comes across as a complete wanker with no idea of how government works in this article:

https://observer.co.uk/news/politics/ar ... ems-at-mod

That afternoon, the national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, rang Carns to inform him that Jarvis had been offered the top job, sounding him out about taking on the vacated security minister brief. Sources said they believed Carns had agreed to stay on board; but that evening he also quit, saying the Dip was “neither transformative enough, nor sufficiently funded”.
A government source said: “We wanted to make it work – he wanted to be on TV.”
However, Carns attacked that account of his decision to quit as “spin”, saying it was designed to “neuter my voice… remove the story, and reduce the impact and steady the ship”.

Led to this comment:

‪Twlldun‬
‪@twlldun.bsky.social‬
*Someone* has convinced himself he’s Billy Big Bollocks, eh

[Tubby Isaacs]

It’s Bertie Big Bollocks. But yeah.

[Samanfur]

It's always been Billy where I come from, too. Must be a regional thing.

[Oboogie]

Billy in my childhood (divided between Birmingham and Guildford).

[Tubby Isaacs]

I've got a definitive source on this one. The locus classicus, if you will. John Sitton's half time rant. The age restriction isn't a marginal call, btw.