[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.

[Abernathy]

Carns must be serious (or perceived to be a threat) - The Daily Mail’s been digging dirt on him (copied from The Dispatch, not the Mail).

Labour’s Selly Oak MP Al Carns is being supported in his bid to become prime minister by a convicted fraudster, the Daily Mail has revealed. The former defence minister, who resigned from cabinet last week after a bust-up with Keir Starmer over defence spending, has close ties to local businessman and charity CEO Paul Cadman. Prior to his tenure at a charity, Cadman was jailed for five years in 2005 for scamming the government out of £1m in apprenticeship scheme funding. The entrepreneur (who is the brother of the former Birmingham city council CEO Deborah Cadman) made fake student profiles using names including James Bond and Bill Clinton to get the cash. Since then, he has become a prominent figure in the Birmingham business and civic sectors and the CEO of the now-liquidated apprenticeship charity Steps to Work. According to sources who spoke to the Mail, Carns uses Cadman to introduce him to influential figures at events and the pair share the same public relations advisor. When the Daily Mail reached out to the pair, Carns declined to comment but Cadman said: “'I've made mistakes in the past, all of which I've learned from, turning my life around and helping others along the way.” (Daily Mail).

[Tubby Isaacs]

I don't need to hear more from Al Carns for a while.

There comes a point when honesty requires action. And for me, that point came last week.
As honourable members know, I came into politics for one reason. That was to enact change.
But to be able to work out where you’re going, we must realise where we have come from. The Labour party I joined is one that was chiselled out of the mines of the north east. It was hammered out of the shipyards of Govan, Liverpool and Belfast. And it was forged in the factories of the industrial revolution.
Calloused hands, sore backs, people who did a hard day’s graft and asked for one thing in return – a government that has their back.

Yeah, Starmer. Just give everybody a lot of money and reindustrialise.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Unfortunately, I've heard from Al Carns again.

In his speech Carns also said he thought the defence investment plans was not sufficiently funded.

But he then went on to spent more time talking about another reason for his resignation – his opposition to the Northern Ireland Troubles bill. On this, he went even further than he did in his resignation letter last week – because he suggested the legislation would help republicans achieve what the IRA was fighting for

The IRA stopped 30 years ago, Al. Go and join Kemi and Farage.

[Youngian]

Fans of Veep may be reminded of Hugh Laurie's slick confident senator Tom James. Thinks he's the Big I am with his eye on the top job. Until he steps up and makes a hash of his big moments to reveal his inadequacy for top office.
Carns is also opposing net zero because energy security should be the top priority.