“These gutless people hide behind the cloak of anonymity - just like the keyboard warriors they rail against."
Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham
Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram has released a statement slamming the “gutless people” briefing against Andy Burnham. He took to social media today (Saturday, January 31), calling on the anonymous briefings to stop comparing those behind them to “keyboard warriors they rail against”.
It comes after Mr Burnham’s bid to stand for Labour MP was blocked by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).
The NEC voted by a total of eight to oneto reject Mr Burnham's application to step down as Greater Manchester mayor and stand as the party's candidate following the resignation of former MP Andrew Gwynne.
In a statement, Labourclaimed the decision to block Mr Burnham's bid was made to avoid causing an "unnecessary" election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor, which it said would have a "substantial and disproportionate impact on party campaign resources".
The statement, posted on X, read: “Enough already. I’ve kept my counsel so far because there were assurances from the Prime Minister that anonymous briefings against Andy Bunham would stop.
“These gutless people hide behind the cloak of anonymity - just like the keyboard warriors they rail against.
“Well, if they want to know what ti took to turn devolution from a nice idea into a living, breathing, delivering reality, I’d happily debate them.
“If they want to know about bravery it took to break ranks in cabinet to get an independent panel to investigate the unlawful killing of 97 British citizens - bring it on.
“If they want to know what the use of political power is - then we can compare which campaigns they have assisted with compared to Andy. But of course, that would require them to go on the record.
These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents. For the sake of our party, please just stop.”
It comes after the government pulled a key amendment to its proposed Hillsborough Law after families and campaigners said they could not support it over fears it would water the landmark legislation down.
The law – officially called the Public Office (Accountability) Bill – aims to force public officials and contractors to tell the truth after disasters. It is named in honour of the 97 Liverpool fans who were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough and their families who faced decades of lies as they fought for truth and justice.
Amendments proposed bythe government on Wednesday brought spies and the intelligence serviceswithin the scope of the legislation, subject to the approval of the head of their service, but campaigners argued this would allow those running the security services to decide whether to disclose information.
However, at the 11th hour, the government decided to pull its amendment saying it would instead work with campaigners and families to bring forward alternative amendments when the bill reaches the House of Lords.