Is Birmingham's Royal Marine a dark horse for PM?

Not many MPs have a back story that's a classified military secret.

But the exploits of Birmingham Selly Oak MP Al Carns as a Royal Marine Commando in Afghanistan are what some say make him perfect to turn around Labour's fortunes.

While all eyes are on whether Andy Burnham can return to Parliament and end Sir Keir Starmer's time in Number 10, an action man from the Midlands is a dark horse to rival the so-called "King of the North".

The name Carns was first being whispered in some Labour circles a few months ago, but those whispers have turned into excited chatter now a leadership contest is all but under way. But what is he like? On Sunday's BBC Politics Midlands programme, a friend has been building up a picture of the man.

Carns' journey into politics is unusual.

Brought up on an Aberdeen estate by his single mum in the 1980s, the 46-year-old joined the Royal Marines aged 19.

He went on to have a 24-year military career, though much of it is shrouded in secrecy.

He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry displayed in Afghanistan in 2011, though the citation for his actions remains classified.

A year ago he climbed Everest, aiming to raise more than £1m for military charities.

Fellow veteran and friend Kevin Godlington joined him on the trip.

"Al had only been an MP for a short period of time," he said.

"He could only take a week off work and I said to him 'what do you want to do for a week of challenge?', and it came up 'why don't we climb Everest'?"

What advice did Godlington have when he first heard Carns wanted to become an MP?

"I said 'you're an idiot, don't do it'."

Carns was first elected as Selly Oak MP at the 2024 general election with a healthy majority of 11,537. He was swiftly promoted to the position of veterans minister, and became minister for the armed forces in last September's reshuffle.

Godlington acknowledges that in the eyes of some veterans, Carns has become a "turncoat" because of how the government has approached legacy issues in Northern Ireland, but says that is the cost of being part of the system and trying to effect change.

Carns's constituency takes in a broad selection of neighbourhoods, from high density student accommodation in the suburb of Selly Oak itself, to leafy Bournville and working class Druids Heath, which he says is similar to where he grew up in Aberdeen.

As the debate about Labour's leadership heats up, he has not shown open disloyalty to his party leader.

His main intervention came in the form of an article in the New Statesman, where he said "too many people in this country work hard and still feel like they're losing", and accused the Labour Party of "forcing them away".

He also highlighted the appeal of Nigel Farage's Reform Party to voters struggling with the cost of living, and says: "We do not need more slogans, strategies, press releases or commissions. We need action."

Some inside the party have described Carns as "Reform Kryptonite".

They think his long military service, larger-than-life persona and work as minister for the armed forces will go down well with voters.

In his constituency, opinions are mixed.

At a community centre in the shadow of condemned tower blocks on the Druids Heath estate, Dave says he has not really seen much of his local MP but his background was encouraging.

"In the Army you've got to be disciplined so I imagine he would follow things through" he said.

A fellow diner at a weekly lunch club said Carns "has his wits about him".

In the more affluent neighbourhood of Stirchley, there is more scepticism over the value of his military background.

"I'm down for more demilitarisation, so I'm kind of the opposite," chef Zack Williams said.

Gill Mahandru, who used to vote Labour but voted Green at the local elections, is not sure having the local MP as the prime minister would make much difference to the area.

"It might be a good thing," she said, "but I don't think it really matters."

So can Carns scale political heights to match his mountaineering exploits?

He would need the support of 81 of his Parliamentary colleagues just to get on the ballot paper of any leadership contest, if one is even triggered.

Some commentators expect he may be willing to come in line behind a better supported candidate when the time comes.

Godlington said 'Al is a born leader', but would not be the person to fire the starting gun.

But if there is a gunfight?

"Lets go," he said. 'He won't run away from a gunfight."

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