"I'm not going to start jumping up and down until I've had a look," former defence minister Al Carns told BBC Politics Midlands, explaining that a major economics speech by Andy Burnham would determine whether he challenges the Labour leadership favourite. The Labour MP for Birmingham Selly Oak said he hoped for "really clear and concise outcomes" on where Burnham sees the country over the next decade. "We need to see a vision, we need to see the plan because unfortunately a vision without a plan is a dream," he said. "What I would like to see is where do we want to be by 2029 and where do we want to be by 2034-35."
Burnham has now delivered that speech, setting out his vision for a "Number 10 North" and promising "growth in every postcode, and hope in every heart." The former Greater Manchester Mayor, who is on course to enter Downing Street in as little as three weeks, criticised "Whitehall culture" and pledged to rebalance resources between national and local governments. But Carns, who resigned as Armed Forces Minister earlier this month over defence budget concerns, is yet to declare. To enter the contest he would need nominations from 81 Labour MPs plus endorsements from affiliated trade unions—a high bar that other potential rivals, including Wes Streeting and Darren Jones, have already chosen not to attempt.
“Al Carns awaits Andy Burnham's speech to decide on Labour leadership challenge, while Burnham promises 'Number 10 North'.”
Carns said defence was one of the "key factors" he would scrutinise in Burnham's speech, describing it as "much broader than just defence, bombs, bullets and battleships" and linked to "national resilience." He made clear he would not target welfare spending to raise money for defence. "I think the premise of the question is welfare over warfare—a pound off a nurse to give it to a soldier? And I just don't agree with that premise," he said. Instead he argued for a "far broader strategy across all the government departments to make it more productive and indeed shave 10% off... by actually enhancing our standards across the country." His approach contrasts with that of Conservative MP Neil Shastri-Hurst, who told the same programme his party would look at social security spending: "We've been very clear, we think the money should come from the welfare state."
The government is expected to reveal its Defence Investment Plan ahead of a Nato summit on 7 July, despite the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer. Carns said he would wait to see how Burnham's speech "lands" and how much it "pulls everybody together" before deciding his next move.