Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer
Former defense minister Al Carns says he turned down an offer to serve in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government.
Carns resigned from former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government last month, following then defense secretary John Healey, over planned military funding that both men said was not high enough.
At the time, Sir Keir replaced Healey with Dan Jarvis, slightly increasing funding for the long-delayed defense investment plan (Dip) but leaving a significant £4.7bn funding gap.
Now Carns says he was offered a ministerial post by chief whip Anneliese Midgely but declined because he still had concerns about defense funding.
Publication date social media, externalHe said: “I resigned in June because I did not believe the defense funding on the table was sufficient to address the threats facing this country. I said so publicly and I still stand by my every word.
“I have always said that I would serve wherever I was asked. Under normal circumstances, I would do exactly that, but the dispute over which I resigned has not yet been resolved.”
Carns explained that he believed accepting the offer of a government post would signal the end of his fight for higher military funding, but that he planned to pursue the cause from the backbenches.
But he acknowledged the appointment of his former boss Healey as chancellor had moved the debate in the right direction. Healey faces the task of finding the extra money he believes the last government failed to provide to keep the UK safe.
“John resigned for the same reasons as me,” Carns said.
“He is a man of his word and has made it clear that he will honor the commitments that led him to leave the government in the first place.
“The Prime Minister knows exactly what John represents and this appointment is significant and I welcome it.”
Speaking earlier on Wednesday, new Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said he wanted to ensure “every penny is spent wisely” and that investment in the armed forces must come with “modernisation”.
Burnham said the UK wanted to meet its defense spending commitments, which include meeting NATO’s core defense spending target of 3.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.
Conservative shadow defense secretary James Cartlidge questioned whether Burnham would increase spending to 3% in the current Parliament, which runs until 2029.
