Former Royal Marines Colonel quits military to stand as Labour candidate in general election
Colonel Alistair Carns, a former Royal Marine who was awarded the Military Cross for his actions while serving in Afghanistan, has quit the military after 24 years to stand in the general election on 4 July.
Having only left the Royal Marines last week, he is now Labour's parliamentary candidate for Birmingham Selly Oak.
Speaking to Forces News, he said: "I decided to come into politics because I think this is an extension of service - I think it's a duty to serve and I wanted to serve a broader church.
"I want to serve at a local level, my constituency in Birmingham, Selly Oak, and then also influence change at the international level as well."
Col Carns explained that within military regulations there is a mechanism for leaving relatively quickly in order to run as a parliamentary candidate.
"It must be a very careful decision because you leave fast and sometimes you sacrifice the fantastic benefits and rap that the military put in place to those are leaving on a more of a slower timeline," he explained.
Fourteen veterans are standing as Labour candidates in the general election, which Labour hopes reflects party leader Sir Keir Starmer's focus on the importance of national security.
Col Carns said there was a strong camaraderie among the candidates who have served, adding: "You never lose that from the military.
"The military is the most fantastic organisation when it comes to camaraderie, to unity and to collective spirit. And it won't be lost when we go into politics.
"I had 24 years of experience in the military, every major campaign, loved my job in the military.
"I gave it up to come and deliver change for the Labour Party and that's because I believe in Keir Starmer's leadership and his stance on national security.
"It's very, very important to me."
The full list of candidates for the Birmingham Selly Oak seat will be published on Friday.
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