Defence Minister and former Royal Marine Al Carns is being touted by some Labour Members of Parliament as a potential successor to Sir Keir Starmer, with supporters describing him as the party's 'Reform slayer' best equipped to challenge Nigel Farage. Several recently elected Labour Members of Parliament reportedly believe his combative style would be more effective against political opponents than other senior figures.

Mr Carns, a former Special Forces colonel who received the Military Cross for service in Afghanistan, drew attention after forceful media appearances in which he said he would chase down a thief who stole his phone. He later dismissed the focus on the incident as 'gutter politics', saying his priority was ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

His high-profile approach, including promotional videos produced in his constituency, has earned him both praise and criticism. While some former military colleagues have jokingly nicknamed him 'Rambo', and even political rivals have acknowledged his capabilities, other Labour figures argue it is premature to consider someone with less than two years in Parliament as a future Prime Minister. Allies insist he has no leadership ambitions and is focused on his current ministerial role.