Al Carns, a former defence minister, has declined an invitation to join Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s cabinet. Carns previously exited Sir Keir Starmer’s administration alongside John Healey due to a dispute concerning inadequate military funding. Despite adjustments made by Starmer, a notable £4.7bn budget shortfall remained, which Carns cites as his primary motivation for refusing the current offer.
The chief whip, Anneliese Midgely, extended the invitation to Carns, but he maintained that accepting a government position would imply his campaign for higher defence spending had concluded. He intends to continue advocating for improved military resources from the back benches. Carns expressed optimism regarding the appointment of his former colleague, John Healey, as chancellor, suggesting that Healey will prioritize the funding commitments that previously prompted their mutual resignation.
Meanwhile, new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has emphasized the need for both fiscal responsibility and modernization within the armed forces. Prime Minister Burnham has committed to reaching NATO’s 3.5% GDP spending target by 2035, although Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge has expressed skepticism regarding potential increases before 2029.
The government has experienced several other personnel shifts. Safeguarding minister Natalie Fleet stepped down, citing the traumatic nature of the role, and environment minister Mary Creagh also resigned. Additionally, Mike Tapp left his position as immigration minister following a conflict with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood over policy reforms.
