While Sir Keir Starmer carries on as if his premiership isn’t burning to the ground, Al Carns took to the morning media round today to offer up some home truths. Fresh from quitting his gig as a defence minister, Carns finally said the quiet bit — in Labour circles, at least — out loud: the Prime Minister is prioritising handouts over keeping the country safe.
The former special forces officer praised Sir Keir as a ‘good and honest man’ before making clear that ‘it’s down to him how he prioritises his funding’. Carns blasted: ‘I don’t think the funding was right. We are fighting amongst each other to get more money for the key unifying principle of the of any government which is to protect this nation.’
Crucially — and at the risk of making Labour MPs vomit — the MP for Birmingham Selly Oak added:
We have got to find more money. That’s down to the PM… There is an argument about welfare. I’m a firm believer a hand up not a hand out.
Needless to say, Carns’s warning will fall on deaf ears. Rachel Reeves’s team wasted no time last night briefing that ‘let’s be clear on what John is asking for: cuts to schools and hospitals’.
All eyes now rest squarely on Andy Burnham, who is yet to reveal his plan to rack up £28 billion for defence. Mr S is not holding his breath.
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