Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh accusations of Labour “saying one thing and doing another” after a six-year-old tweet from his leadership campaign resurfaced amid the row over Andy Burnham’s blocked by-election bid.
In the post, shared in February 2020, Starmer argued Labour selections needed to be taken out of the hands of the party machine and handed back to grassroots members.
“The selections for Labour candidates needs to be more democratic and we should end NEC impositions of candidates. Local Party members should select their candidates for every election,” Starmer wrote.
The tweet has begun circulating online after Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) blocked Greater Manchester mayor Burnham from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election — a move that has triggered furious internal fallout and claims that local members are being cut out of the process.
Thousands of people on X retweeted the six year old post, with many asking the PM ‘what’s changed?’ X user David Newton reposted the link saying, ‘I’m not even sure what to say.’
Labour activist Owen Jones, presumably with tongue pressed firmly in cheek, said, “you’ve got to hand it to him, he’s an extremely funny man”, while Conservative Group leader on Sefton Council wrote: “Well this is awkward.”
Burnham had applied to stand as Labour’s candidate but, as a directly elected mayor, required NEC approval to run. The party body moved to stop his bid, with concerns raised internally about the cost and organisational implications of triggering a replacement mayoral election if he returned to Westminster.
The decision has angered some MPs and figures across Labour, with supporters arguing Burnham would have been a strong contender in a difficult contest — and that local party members should have been allowed to choose their preferred candidate.
One senior Labour source who had been supportive of Burnham’s candidacy told the BBC: “They’re gambling the PM’s whole premiership on winning a very hard by-election without their best candidate. It is madness.”
The fallout has continued to grow, with former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell also launching a scathing attack on ‘coward’ Starmer over the episode.
“Do not underestimate the depth of anger people will feel about this disgusting decision. If you think it strengthens you I tell you it will simply hasten your demise. You could have shown magnanimous leadership but instead it’s cowardice,” McDonnell wrote on X.
The row has also highlighted wider questions around Labour’s internal control, the power of the NEC, and the party’s relationship with its high-profile regional figures — especially in the North, where Burnham remains one of Labour’s most recognisable and politically influential mayors.
With the by-election now moving ahead without Burnham on the ballot, attention is turning to whether the decision strengthens Labour’s grip on the seat — or further deepens internal divisions at a time when the party is already under pressure nationally.
