23rd Jul 2026 06:38
(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has continued to make changes to his ministerial team, but the former armed forces minister has turned down a role because his concerns about defence funding remain.
Al Carns quit his position as armed forces minister last month, following John Healey's exit as defence secretary in a dispute with Downing Street about the Defence Investment Plan, Dip.
The shock resignations proved a consequential moment in Keir Starmer's downfall as premier.
Healey has since been appointed chancellor by Burnham.
Carns said the issue of defence funding has "not yet been settled", and that he had declined the offer of a role.
In a post on social media, the Royal Marines veteran said: "I had a good conversation with the Chief Whip today where she offered me a return to government. After careful thought, I declined, with respect and with thanks. 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.
"I've always said I would serve where I am asked. In normal circumstances, that is exactly what I would do, but the argument I resigned over has not yet been settled. To take another role now, in another department, would suggest that it has. Until the country is spending what it needs to spend on its own defence, my job is to keep making that case, honestly and constructively, from the backbenches.
"The appointment of John Healey as chancellor changes the picture in one important respect. John resigned for the same reasons I did. He is a man of his word and he has made it clear that he will deliver on the commitments that led him to leave government in the first place.
"The prime minister knows exactly what John stands for and that appointment is meaningful and I welcome it."
Earlier on Wednesday, Natalie Fleet resigned as safeguarding minister saying she found the role "overwhelmingly triggering".
The Labour MP for Bolsover, who was groomed and raped as a teenager, said she had done the "bravest thing" in telling Burnham she was stepping down.
Fleet has previously spoken about her experience of being groomed at the age of 15 by an older man, who raped her, which resulted in her becoming pregnant.
Elsewhere, Mike Tapp said he will no longer serve as the Home Office minister for migration.
He said he was "disappointed to be leaving government", and had remained "loyal to Keir Starmer until the end".
The junior minister found himself embroiled in a row with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood towards the end of Starmer's tenure, after he suggested exempting care workers from her indefinite leave to remain reforms.
Environment minister Mary Creagh also announced she would be stepping down.
"I'm very sorry to be leaving government but that's politics," the MP for Coventry East said.
"I will be supporting our new prime minister from the back benches."
Early education minister Olivia Bailey also announced she was leaving the government.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is expected to be given a peerage and a job in the revamped Department for Business, Innovation, Science & Trade.
Sarwar, who has been Scottish Labour leader since 2021, was among the first to call for Starmer to stand down in February.
Downing Street has already confirmed appointments including Dan Jarvis, who stepped in as Starmer's defence secretary when Healey resigned and has been returned to his previous post of security minister.
James Murray, who was made health secretary when Wes Streeting quit, has been made Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General.
Anna Turley is no longer Labour Party chair and has instead been made a Home Office minister.
Florence Eshalomi has become a housing minister and Andy Slaughter Solicitor General, freeing up their roles as heads of parliament's housing and justice committees.
There were also 17 reappointments for ministers to remain in their roles, including Sarah Sackman as justice minister and Luke Pollard as defence minister.
By George Lithgow, PA Political and Home Affairs Correspondent
Press Association: News
source: PA
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