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Alistair Carns

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Colonel
Alistair Carns
OBE MC MP
Official portrait, 2024
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People
Assumed office
9 July 2024
Prime MinisterKeir Starmer
Preceded byJohnny Mercer
Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Selly Oak
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded bySteve McCabe
Majority11,537 (30.1%)
Personal details
Born1979 or 1980 (age 44–45)
Aberdeen, Scotland
Political partyLabour
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
RankColonel
UnitRoyal Marines
Commandsc. 2000 – 2024
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan
AwardsMilitary Cross (2011)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (2022)

Colonel Alistair Scott Carns, OBE, MC (born c. 1980) is a British Labour Party politician and former Royal Marines officer, who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Selly Oak since 2024.[1]

Early life and education

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Carns was born and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland.[1]

Military service

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Carns joined the Royal Marines in the other ranks.[1] He was commissioned as an officer on 4 September 2002, and appointed to the trained strength on 29 September 2003.[2] He was promoted to major on 1 October 2010,[3] to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 2016,[4] and to colonel on 26 July 2021.[5] He left the Royal Marines after 24 years of service in May 2024 to stand for election to the House of Commons.[6][7]

Carns was mentioned in despatches "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2006 to 31st March 2007".[8] In September 2011, he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1st October 2010 to 31st March 2011".[9] In the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).[10]

Political career

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In the 2024 General Election, he was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Selly Oak with 17,371 votes (45.2 %) and a majority of 11,537.[11] On 9 July 2024, he was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Veterans and People in the Ministry of Defence.[12][13][14]

On 24 July 2024, Carns made his maiden speech in the House of Commons during a debate on education and opportunity.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sengupta, Kim (26 June 2024). "'We need leadership': The former marine hoping to be a Labour MP". The Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  2. ^ "No. 57447". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 October 2004. p. 13487.
  3. ^ "No. 59593". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 November 2010. p. 21039.
  4. ^ "No. 61662". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 2016. p. 16581.
  5. ^ "No. 63476". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 2021. p. 16628.
  6. ^ Sengupta, Kim (10 July 2024). "'We need leadership': The former marine now a Labour minister". The Independent. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Recently retired Royal Marine Colonel Alistair Carns appointed Veterans Minister". www.forces.net. 10 July 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  8. ^ "No. 58396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 2007. p. 10412.
  9. ^ "No. 59924". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 September 2011. p. 18714.
  10. ^ "No. 63714". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 June 2022. p. B6.
  11. ^ "Birmingham Selly Oak – General election results 2024". BBC News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Alistair Carns MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024". GOV.UK. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Minister for Veterans and People – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  15. ^ Al Carns (24 July 2024). "Education and Opportunity". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 752. United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 765–768.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Birmingham Selly Oak
2024–present 		Incumbent
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