Andy Burnham has received an ultimatum ahead of next week as the Makerfield MP plots to become the next Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham, who was sworn in as the MP for Makerfield after seeing off the threat from Reform UK last week, could be handed the keys to No10 as early as July 17 if he does not face a challenge to become the next Labour Party leader.
Ex-Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the Prime Minister’s top ally Darren Jones both gave Mr Burnham a boost after ruling out standing in the race to succeed Sir Keir Starmer.
However, ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns is seen as a “dark horse” to run against Mr Burnham.
The former Royal Marine commando, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 2024, gave Mr Burnham an ultimatum as the silver-haired Scotsman teased about standing himself.
He said: “Whoever wants to lead the country, tell me what you want it to be in 2029 and 2034.
“Let’s be really clear on the objectives you want to get to, the outcomes you want for this country. What’s the vision?”
When told by Gloria de Piero that it sounded like he was not going to throw his hat into the ring, Mr Carns replied: “The reality is this is one Labour MP’s decision on who they want to run.
“That will be based on what they think the policy objectives and policy platforms they’re running on are.”
The Birmingham Selly Oak MP, who admitted he has “spoken to lots of people” about his leadership hopes, suggested Mr Burnham has until his scheduled policy announcement next Tuesday to set out his vision for the country.
However, Mr Carns also refused to rule out serving in Government under Mr Burnham’s leadership.
He told GB News: “Give me the policy platform; give me the vision for the country, and if he has the inspiration, drive and courageous, bold nature to move this forward, then I will wave the flag, jump on the bandwagon and move hell for leather for him.”
“I support the policies that will make this country great, not necessarily the people. This is about the policy platform.”
But the ex-military man kept insisting his loyalty is to the country rather than any political leader.
Mr Carns resigned as Sir Keir’s Armed Forces Minister after the Government was embroiled in a major row about defence spending.
Setting out his decision to leave the Labour frontbench, Mr Carns fumed about the delay to the Defence Investment Fund and revealed he had concerns about veterans who served in Northern Ireland.
Speaking to GB News about the Dip controversy, Al Carns said: “I’ve always been really clear on this.
“If it’s transformative enough, it takes those lessons from Ukraine integration and treats this defence issue as a much broader resilience task.
“And if it has the right financial envelope, then it will probably be good to go.
“And Dan Jarvis is a really good man with a good background in the parachute regiment.”
When pushed on when the Labour Government should set out its investment plan, Mr Carns insisted that would be a decision for Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis and the next Prime Minister.