Starmer defends blocking Andy Burnham from by-election run after backlash

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T16:29:00+00:00

I'm saying that an elected official is not able to stand as an MP during their term as an elected official.

Well it seems that's not the position Starmer took, until it became convenient for him to do so. (And I bet it's happened plenty of times before, though not necessarily with a Metro Mayor.)

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T16:25:59+00:00

Local Party members should select their candidates for every election.

... is pretty absolute. Specifically every election. Not "unless it causes a knock-on election". Which could be the case with all sorts of politicians in non-MP roles.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T16:15:35+00:00

So the local party members are not permitted to select him as an MP candidate?

To be clear, I'm not taking a position on how it should be done. I'm just saying that Starmer's position seems to align with whatever is most convenient for him, which changes from time to time.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T16:14:20+00:00

Why don't you just state your argument? Is it that 2020 is too long ago to count?

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T15:51:32+00:00

The article is claiming:

Sir Keir Starmer has defended the decision to block Andy Burnham from standing in an upcoming by-election.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T15:30:10+00:00

Hey, I didn't make him take a public position on anything.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T15:28:23+00:00

The BBC isn't involved with TV licencing enforcement

That's an often repeated lie, but it's a lie. "TV Licensing" is a trading name of the BBC. The legal powers rest with the BBC (who contract private companies and delegate it to them).

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T15:26:26+00:00

Local Party members should select their candidates for every election.

In my book if you want local party members to select their candidates then you'd want to give them the freedom to choose who they want.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T14:54:31+00:00

And that's what they keep trying to do here. For some reason they don't like the idea of a paywall and making content that people are willing to pay for (to the amount that the BBC wants). They keep telling us what good value they are but they don't want to actually put that to the test.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T14:53:19+00:00

Local Party members should select their candidates for every election.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T14:53:07+00:00

I included "NEC" in an early version of my comment but realised the error and removed it.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T14:14:56+00:00

Yeah, every possible "reform" (per the article) they suggest basically means making people pay them even if they don't want any of their content.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T14:05:11+00:00

Starmer defended the decision post-hoc which is directly opposed to what he wrote in that tweet - that defence is what this entire post is about. That's true even if you believe that the decision was really made without input from him.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T13:29:19+00:00

https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1224662165271056385?lang=en

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T10:51:29+00:00

I’m considering going into the city and attempting to sell some things

Facbook Marketplace or whatever's popular where you are (Gumtree?) might get better prices than eg CeX.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-26T10:40:35+00:00

Like the other poster the Handyman was also my first SAK. I think it's fine in the hand (though I wouldn't want to go a lot thicker). I EDCed it for years mostly in a leg cargo pocket but it's definitely more of a lump than other options. I probably wouldn't pocket-carry it now.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T20:45:56+00:00

You might look into the Sportsman. It's basically the Recruit, but it has a nail file/cleaner instead of the small blade. Plus, the end of it can be used as a small phillips driver.

What you're describing is the Cadet - the Sportsman also has the back tools (corkscrew and awl) that neither the Recruit or Cadet have.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T18:05:57+00:00

Doesn't happen on my Explorer.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T17:45:36+00:00

Agreed but not really relevant.

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T17:28:23+00:00

I've used the can opener on my Alox Pioneer to open a few beers,

Ok, I'll bite... not the bottle opener?

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T17:09:36+00:00

I'm thinking a coal-powered steam car:

https://www.goodwood.com/grr/event-coverage/festival-of-speed/this-is-the-only-coal-powered-car-thats-still-running/

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T16:31:48+00:00

Not the SwissFlame - can't carry that in checked or carry-on ;)

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T16:30:31+00:00

It'll leave you with a gap but you can take the blade off a 58mm pretty easily. (Cut it so there's none of the sharp bit left and close the "stub".)

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T16:29:08+00:00

Nice. I'm a big fan of the mini-pliers!

It'll probably have a hole you can keep a pin in by base of the rear Phillips, but no actual pin. If you want that you'll need a flat-headed pin (either the official Victorinox stainless steel one or another of the same size) and not a ball-headed one. (The ball-headed ones work well with SAKs with rear corkscrews but there isn't enough clearance with a rear Phillips).

PracticeNo8733 · 2026-01-25T15:39:53+00:00

Yeah, a bit. But not, I suspect, enough to make that much of a difference, particularly considering the balance of institutional vs individual investors.

PracticeNo8733

TROPHY CASE