Forces Minister Alistair Carns
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Discussion

CloudStuff

Original Poster:

4,208 posts

132 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
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Anybody else quietly impressed by this guy so far?

I mean, I'm no Labour man but I think could be somebody with political leadership potential. Early days though.

He could of course get swallowed up by the machine.

anonymous-user

82 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
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Never heard of him. What has he done? (ps no armed forces minister has ever become PM)

Strangely Brown

15,223 posts

259 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
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His background makes me surprised that he is a Labour guy.

hidetheelephants

35,342 posts

221 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
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The same nonsense was trotted out for Dan Jarvis after he'd been an MP for 5 minutes. Ask again in 12 months.

DeejRC

9,340 posts

110 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
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I had dinner with a chap last week, another services gentleman who mentioned him and said he was fairly impressed with him so far. Had to admit, Id never heard of the bloke and had to look him up. Seemed ok, didnt really think much of it.
The Times then ran an article on him last Friday or Sat I think, a fairly mild but positive puff piece and even my wife suddenly commented on saying she thought was ok. Now a PH thread of his very own!

He seems to be very much the flavour of the month. Whether its new messiah complex, just his turn this month or a desperation PR stunt to push a new guy with a good service jacket, I guess we shall see over the next few months and yrs.

hidetheelephants

35,342 posts

221 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
quotequote all
There's an article in the Grauniad too, someone's got an effective PR.

anonymous-user

82 months

Thursday 18th December 2025
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I guess if he's not an incompetent, corrupt, tax evading liar with a conviction for fraud, who's grossly inflated his CV, made tenants homeless, illegally rented out his properties and doesn't openly support terrorists he's looking like a pretty decent bloke in this government.

junglie

2,051 posts

245 months

Friday 19th December 2025
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He has always been destined for great things from early in his career.

We worked together for a bit and he is deeply impressive with an incredible, if slightly chilling, CV.

A good chap who will hopefully mirror his military ability in the political world.

BikeBikeBIke

14,372 posts

143 months

Friday 19th December 2025
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https://youtu.be/_GkaA9qAuCE?si=Ly53_u4TCR5jYz7p

He seems excellent, but I fear in a government 20 or 35 years ago he would have been considered average. frown

Alickadoo

3,437 posts

51 months

Friday 19th December 2025
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JuanCarlosFandango

9,700 posts

99 months

Friday 19th December 2025
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First I've heard of him. I suppose the fact he hasn't got in a scrap, been caught defrauding the tax payer or claimed to have been at Waterloo marks him out as one of the less ridiculous ones, but impressed is a stretch.

CloudStuff

Original Poster:

4,208 posts

132 months

Friday 23rd January
quotequote all
hidetheelephants said:
The same nonsense was trotted out for Dan Jarvis after he'd been an MP for 5 minutes. Ask again in 12 months.
Why is it nonsense?

We've had a succession of leaders who really can't carry themselves in public. Johnson, Truss, Sunak, Starmer. All either gauche or embarrassing.

Yes, it's not the most important quality, but it's a basic starting point.

I'd much rather have a leader who has combat experience, and uses this to push back on overnight bs:

https://x.com/AlistairCarns/status/201465340310894...

I also think defence spending should be a much higher budget priority, certainly than our misguided and cack-handed net zero focus. And I think Carns would agree and see this through.

oddman

4,177 posts

280 months

Friday 23rd January
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Heard about him on, I think, TRIP podcast.

Putting aside, his service, the MC etc, the Everest in five days is absolutely extraordinary.

Mr Penguin

4,557 posts

67 months

Friday 23rd January
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Dominic Cummings also mentioned him on his interview on Quite Right as someone who was talented and able, this from interactions with him when Carns was still in the forces.

isaldiri

24,475 posts

196 months

Friday 23rd January
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Mr Penguin said:
Dominic Cummings also mentioned him on his interview on Quite Right as someone who was talented and able, this from interactions with him when Carns was still in the forces.
it's far from clear that being commended by Cummings is a positive rather than a negative.....

hidetheelephants

35,342 posts

221 months

Friday 23rd January
quotequote all
CloudStuff said:
Why is it nonsense?

We've had a succession of leaders who really can't carry themselves in public. Johnson, Truss, Sunak, Starmer. All either gauche or embarrassing.

Yes, it's not the most important quality, but it's a basic starting point.

I'd much rather have a leader who has combat experience, and uses this to push back on overnight bs:

https://x.com/AlistairCarns/status/201465340310894...

I also think defence spending should be a much higher budget priority, certainly than our misguided and cack-handed net zero focus. And I think Carns would agree and see this through.
That military experience will magically make him a great politician, Dan Jarvis was hyped by breathless idiots as a potential party leader practically before he'd made his maiden speech and it appears to have harmed his career rather than helped. Cairns might be but it will be because he's adapted to a job that's completely different to what he's done previously.