Al Carns | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Luke Pollard |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People | |
| In office 9 July 2024 – 6 September 2025 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Johnny Mercer |
| Succeeded by | Louise Sandher-Jones |
| Member of Parliament forBirmingham Selly Oak | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Steve McCabe |
| Majority | 11,537 (30.1%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alistair Scott Carns (1980-03-27)27 March 1980 (age 45) Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Party | Labour |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 1999–2024 (Regular) 2024–present (Reserve) |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Mention in Despatches (2007) Military Cross (2011) Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2022) Distinguished Service Order (2024) |
ColonelAlistair Scott Carns,DSO, OBE, MC (born 27 March 1980) is a BritishLabour Party politician and former regularRoyal Marines officer and a current reserve officer, who has beenMember of Parliament (MP) forBirmingham Selly Oak since 2024.[1]
Carns was born on 27 March 1980 inAberdeen, Scotland.[1][2] He was educated at astate school in the city, where his ambition was to become acombat diver.[2]
Carns enlisted as aRoyal Marine Commando in 1999.[1][3] He was subsequently commissioned as an officer in September 2002, and appointed to the trained strength as acaptain in September 2003.[4] He was promoted tomajor on 1 October 2010,[5] tolieutenant colonel on 30 June 2016,[6] and tocolonel on 26 July 2021.[7]
Carns was a colonel in the special forces,[8][9] andThe Independent reported that he had "served in every major conflict this country has been engaged in for the last two dozen years", but much of the detail could not be made public for security reasons.[10] He has stated he came close to death more than four times during his service.[2]
Carns served five operational toursin Afghanistan,[11] and wasmentioned in despatches "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007".[12] In September 2011, he was awarded theMilitary Cross (MC) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011".[13] In the2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[14]
Carns was a military adviser to threeDefence Secretaries;Michael Fallon,Gavin Williamson andPenny Mordaunt.[2]
Carns was to be promoted toBrigadier in June 2024, however he resigned his commission in May 2024 in order to stand for theLabour Party in the2024 general election.[1][15]
Carns re-enlisted in theRoyal Marines as areservist in November 2024.[2]
In the2025 New Year Honours, Carns was appointed aCompanion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field during the period 1 October 2023 to 31 March 2024".[16] He received the medal during a ceremony July 2025; his DSO was the first to feature King Charles's cypher.[17]
In the2024 general election, he was electedMember of Parliament (MP) forBirmingham Selly Oak with 17,371 votes (45.2 %) and a majority of 11,537.[18] On 9 July 2024, he was appointedParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People in theMinistry of Defence.[19][20][21] This ministerial post is also simply known as the Minister for Veterans and People.[19]
In September 2025, Carns became the Minister for the Armed Forces.
On 24 July 2024, Carns made hismaiden speech in theHouse of Commons during a debate on education and opportunity.[22]
Carns summitedMount Everest on 21 May 2025, as part of a team of four ex-special forces members triallingthe use of xenon gas to speed upaltitude acclimatisation.[23] He said, "The reality is if I had six to eight weeks to climb Everest, I would, but I'm a government minister and I don't have time."[24]
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| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| Distinguished Service Order | Appointed Companion (DSO) in 2025[16] |
| Order of the British Empire | Appointed Officer (OBE) in 2022[14] |
| Military Cross | (MC)[13] |
| General Service Medal (1962) | With two clasps |
| Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan |
|
| General Service Medal (2008) | With clasp |
| Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal | 6 February 2012 |
| Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal | 6 February 2022 |
| King Charles III Coronation Medal | 6 May 2023 |
| Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 | |
| Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848) |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBirmingham Selly Oak 2024–present | Incumbent |
