Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer. Former defence minister Al Carns says he has turned down an offer to serve in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government.
Carns followed John Healey, then defence secretary, in resigning from former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's government last month in a row over planned military funding, which both men said was not high enough.
Details
Streeting is now defence secretary, replacing Dan Jarvis, the former British Army officer, who had initially replaced Healey and has now returned to his previous post of security minister.
Now Carns says he has been offered a ministerial role by the chief whip, Anneliese Midgely, but declined because he is still concerned about defence funding, in a development tied to the same story.
Carns explained he believed to take up the offer of a government role would signal his fight for higher military funding was over, when he intends to keep making that case from the back benches.
Back in June, Healey's resignation, as one of Sir Keir's most loyal cabinet allies, ended up being the final nail in the coffin for the former prime minister's premiership.
Fleet, who was groomed and raped as a teenager, had been appointed safeguarding minister by Sir Keir in May but said she had found the role "overwhelmingly triggering", which had forced her to step down.
Environment minister Creagh also announced she would be stepping down, having been appointed by Sir Keir following Labour's general election landslide win in 2024.
Image source, EPAImage caption, Al Carns resigned from ex-PM Sir Keir Starmer's government citing concerns over defence spending, in a development tied to the same story.
Separately, Healey had asked other defence ministers to stay in post, but Carns and Pamela Nash, who had been Healey's parliamentary assistant, quit nevertheless.
Statements
«I resigned in June because I did not believe the defence funding on the table was adequate for the threats this country faces. I said so publicly and I still stand by every word.»
Context
In further government moves, former immigration minister Mike Tapp said he was disappointed to be leaving his role, adding he had remained loyal to Sir Keir.
Armed forces minister quits after Healey exit as defence funding row deepens Published12 June, according to the latest reporting on the story.
The decision followed a row over immigration reforms with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, one of the few cabinet members who Burnham has kept in post, who accused Tapp of breaching the Ministerial Code.
Two more ministers also announced they were stepping down on Wednesday, Natalie Fleet and Mary Creagh, in a development tied to the same story.
Available information indicates that Healey had asked other defence ministers to stay in post, but Carns and Pamela Nash, who had been Healey's parliamentary assistant, quit nevertheless.
Separately, Armed forces minister quits after Healey exit as defence funding row deepens Published12 June.
Available information indicates that Former defence minister Al Carns says he has turned down an offer to serve in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government.
Separately, Former defence minister Al Carns says he has turned down an offer to serve in Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government.
Available information indicates that Now Carns says he has been offered a ministerial role by the chief whip, Anneliese Midgely, but declined because he is still concerned about defence funding.
Available information indicates that In further government moves, former immigration minister Mike Tapp said he was disappointed to be leaving his role, adding he had remained loyal to Sir Keir.
Separately, In further government moves, former immigration minister Mike Tapp said he was disappointed to be leaving his role, adding he had remained loyal to Sir Keir.
Available information indicates that Armed forces minister quits after Healey exit as defence funding row deepens Published12 June.
On the related details, Streeting is now defence secretary, replacing Dan Jarvis, the former British Army officer, who had initially replaced Healey and has now returned to his previous post of security minister, clarifying the wider picture around Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer.
On the related details, Now Carns says he has been offered a ministerial role by the chief whip, Anneliese Midgely, but declined because he is still concerned about defence funding, clarifying the wider picture around Former defence minister Al Carns turns down ministerial offer.
