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Alistair Carns

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Colonel
Alistair Carns
OBE MC MP
Official portrait, 2024
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 July 2024
Prime MinisterKeir Starmer
Preceded byJohnny Mercer
Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Selly Oak
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded bySteve McCabe
Majority11,537 (30.1%)
Personal details
Born1979 or 1980 (age 44–45)
Aberdeen, Scotland
Political partyLabour
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
RankColonel
UnitRoyal Marines
Commands1999 – 2024
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsMilitary Cross (2011)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2022)

Colonel Alistair Scott Carns, OBE, MC (born c. 1980) is a British Labour Party politician and former Royal Marines officer, who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Selly Oak since 2024.[1]

Early life and education

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Carns was born on 27 March 1980 in Aberdeen, Scotland.[1][2] He was educated a state school in the city.[2]

Military service

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In 1999, Carns joined the Royal Marines in the other ranks.[1][3] He was commissioned as an officer on 4 September 2002, and appointed to the trained strength on 29 September 2003.[4] He was promoted to major on 1 October 2010,[5] to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 2016,[6] and to colonel on 26 July 2021.[7]

Carns was mentioned in despatches "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007".[8] In September 2011, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011".[9] In the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[10]

Carns was a military adviser to three Defence Secretaries; Michael Fallon, Gavin Williamson and Penny Mordant.[2]

Carns was to be promoted to Brigadier in June 2024, however he resigned his commission in May 2024 in order to stand for the Labour Party in the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[11][12]

Carns re-enlisted in the Royal Marines as a reservist in November 2024.[2]

Political career

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Carns with Navy personnel, 2024

In the 2024 General Election, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Selly Oak with 17,371 votes (45.2 %) and a majority of 11,537.[13] On 9 July 2024, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People in the Ministry of Defence.[14][15][16] His ministerial post is also simply known as the Minister for Veterans and People.[14]

On 24 July 2024, Carns made his maiden speech in the House of Commons during a debate on education and opportunity.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sengupta, Kim (26 June 2024). "'We need leadership': The former marine hoping to be a Labour MP". The Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Brown, Larisa (8 November 2024). "Alistair Carns: If war erupts in Europe, I want to be ready to fight". The Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  3. ^ Al Carns (31 October 2024). "LGBT Veterans Independent Review". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 755. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 1048–1048.
  4. ^ "No. 57447". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 2004. p. 13487.
  5. ^ "No. 59593". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 2010. p. 21039.
  6. ^ "No. 61662". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 2016. p. 16581.
  7. ^ "No. 63476". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 2021. p. 16628.
  8. ^ "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10412.
  9. ^ "No. 59924". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 September 2011. p. 18714.
  10. ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 2022. p. B6.
  11. ^ Sengupta, Kim (10 July 2024). "'We need leadership': The former marine now a Labour minister". The Independent. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Recently retired Royal Marine Colonel Alistair Carns appointed Veterans Minister". www.forces.net. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Birmingham Selly Oak – General election results 2024". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Alistair Carns MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Minister for Veterans and People – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  17. ^ Al Carns (24 July 2024). "Education and Opportunity". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 765–768.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Birmingham Selly Oak
2024–present 		Incumbent
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