Kemi Badenoch confronted the Armed Forces minister for skipping a key vote on Labour's controversial Troubles law, only to turn up and help rescue Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Conservative leader reportedly berated Al Carns outside the House of Commons voting lobbies on Tuesday evening after spotting him among those who supported the Prime Minister.
Mr Carns was one of 335 MPs who voted against launching a parliamentary investigation into Sir Keir over his appointment of disgraced peer Peter Mandelson as US ambassador. This came less than 24 hours after the defence minister missed a pivotal Commons vote on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, which critics fear could leave British Army veterans vulnerable to legal action for their actions during the conflict.
Mrs Badenoch is said to have rebuked Mr Carns for attending Tuesday's vote on the Prime Minister while being absent for Monday's vote on the Bill. However, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marine, countered that he was away on Monday because he was visiting British troops across the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran. According to Politico, he told Mrs Badenoch he was "dealing with a crisis in the Middle East… that would have been far worse if you were in charge."
Exchange Over Military Comments
Mr Carns also reportedly criticised the Tory leader for recent remarks suggesting the UK military is "just hanging around" in the Middle East. This exchange took place as Sir Keir struggles to secure his political future, having imposed a three-line whip on Labour MPs to block a standards probe into the Mandelson scandal. The move sparked accusations of a "cover-up" over his role in appointing Lord Mandelson.
Vote on Troubles Bill
Mr Carns was absent from Monday's vote on the Troubles Bill, which saw MPs back a carry-over motion to keep the legislation alive. The Bill, if passed, would repeal and replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, introduced by the previous Conservative government. Labour's action follows a High Court ruling in Belfast that parts of the 2023 Act were incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The former government had appealed that decision, but Labour dropped the appeal after the 2024 general election.
Labour's proposed Troubles Bill aims to end the immunity scheme in the current legislation, raising fears it could reopen the door to "vexatious litigation" against British veterans. In a social media post late Tuesday, Mr Carns defended his absence, stating he had spent days visiting British forces on live operations across the Middle East. He acknowledged the strong feelings surrounding the issue and reiterated his commitment to ensuring the process does not become a punishment for those who served.
"For those who served in Northern Ireland, and for their families, this is not an abstract issue. It is about truth, justice, and how we treat those who put themselves on the line for our country," Mr Carns wrote. He pledged to continue working with colleagues across government to achieve truth, reconciliation, and justice for veterans and their families.
