𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer has been publicly branded “outrageous”, a “control freak” and “weak” by sitting Labour MPs, as the party descends into its most bitter infighting to date. The fury exploded after the Labour Party NEC, led by Sir Keir Starmer, voted to block Andy Burnham from standing in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election.

Mr Burnham announced his request to put his name forward yesterday, but his dreams were crushed in a landslide vote after a meeting that lasted less than an hour. The Labour ruling executive body voted 8-1 in favour of opposing Mr Burnham from standing, citing the costs of having to fight a subsequent by-election for the Manchester mayoralty. The move sparked instant fury from sitting Labour MPs, who branded Sir Keir Starmer and his NEC allies “control freaks”.

John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, tweeted: “Message to Keir: 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.”

Middlesborough MP Andy McDonald blasted: “This is completely outrageous. It should be for the members to decide who stands in this by election.

“I’m afraid the NEC and the control freaks have made a catastrophic mistake and they have massively miscalculated the damage this will cause.”

Left-winger Richard Burgon fumed: “Keir Starmer and his clique have shown they’re prepared to lose Gorton and Denton to Reform – just to protect narrow factional interests.

“It’s weak leadership – and will only deepen the crisis the party is in.”

The Leeds MP added that there should “be an emergency NEC meeting to resolve this mess.”

He was echoed by Nadia Whittome, who accused her party’s leadership team of “destroying the only electoral vehicle currently capable of stopping a proto-fascist government in 2029.

“Faction before party before country.”

The news was also greeted by dismay from the trade union movement, with the new leader of UNISON Andrea Egan warning: “This isn’t the way any democratic organisation should be run.”

In an official statement by the party following the vote, it insisted that allowing him to go ahead for the seat would cause “an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester Mayor [which] would have a substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources ahead of the local elections and elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd in May.

“Andy Burnham is doing a great job as Mayor of Greater Manchester. We believe it is in the best interests of the party to avoid an unnecessary Mayoral election, which would use substantial amounts of taxpayers’ money and resources that are better spent tackling the cost of living crisis.

“We look forward to fighting and winning the upcoming by-election in Gorton and Denton and the positive campaign ahead, which will be firmly focused on tackling the cost of living and bringing investment to the local area.”