Former Armed Forces minister Al Carns has said he is still considering whether to enter the Labour leadership contest following the resignation of Prime Minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Speaking to ITV’s Peston programme, Mr Carns declined to rule out a leadership bid but stressed that he had not yet reached a decision.
He said: “What I would say is I’m not ready to make a decision on this in any way, shape or form.”
Mr Carns added that he wanted Labour to focus on developing a long-term vision for the country rather than becoming consumed by short-term political debates.
He said there needed to be a broader discussion about what Britain should look like in the years ahead, arguing that Labour should establish clear objectives for 2029 and beyond before deciding how best to achieve them.
The comments come as speculation continues to grow over who will succeed Sir Keir, whose resignation has triggered a leadership contest within the governing party.
Many Labour figures believe Andy Burnham is currently the frontrunner. Some supporters are hoping the former Greater Manchester mayor could secure the leadership without facing a serious challenge.
Mr Carns resigned from the Government earlier this month after criticising Sir Keir’s approach to defence spending. He accused the Prime Minister of failing to provide sufficient funding commitments through the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, arguing that Britain’s armed forces required greater investment.
The possibility of a contested leadership race remains uncertain. Senior Labour figures including David Lammy and Nick Thomas-Symonds have reportedly backed the prospect of Mr Burnham becoming leader.
However, other allies of Sir Keir are said to be encouraging Darren Jones to enter the race in an effort to provide an alternative candidate and avoid an uncontested succession.
In his resignation speech, Sir Keir confirmed that Labour members would have the opportunity to choose a new leader if the contest is contested. A leadership election could be completed by early September.
Should no rival candidates come forward, Mr Burnham could potentially take over as Labour leader and Prime Minister before Parliament’s summer recess, with a transition taking place as early as next month.
The coming days are expected to be crucial in determining whether Labour members face a competitive leadership contest or whether Mr Burnham’s path to the top job remains largely unchallenged.
