[8] The cancellation of some A-level exams during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked Carling's interest in politics,[9] which developed at university and inspired him to run for elected office.

[10] While at Barnard Castle School, Carling received the Salters–Nuffield Prize[11] for "exceptional performance in biology" from the Worshipful Company of Salters with an essay entitled "Could carbon quantum dots have applications in bioimaging?

In 2022, while still a second-year undergraduate, Carling ran on the Labour slate for election to Cambridge City Council to represent the ward of West Chesterton.

During his tenure, Carling held the office of Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services,[20] and was a member of the Skills Committee of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for two years.

[21] Carling announced his intention to step down as a Cambridge city councillor as soon as a by-election could reasonably be held and, in the following week on 18 July, he resigned from the council's cabinet.

Campaigning for better public services,[24] he defeated incumbent Conservative MP Shailesh Vara being returned to Parliament by a narrow margin of 39 votes, verified by a recount.

[28] In November 2024, Carling voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legalise assisted dying.