Labour is facing intense scrutiny after it emerged that a councillor who admitted to child sex offences had received high-profile support on the campaign trail.
Liron Velleman, 30, who pleaded guilty this week to attempting sexual communication with a child, was backed by several senior Labour figures, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and eight cabinet ministers, in past elections.
While the endorsements were given before Velleman’s crimes came to light, the revelations have triggered questions about vetting processes and the party’s oversight of its candidates.
Starmer and Ministers Linked to Past Campaigning
Evidence shows that Sir Keir Starmer, alongside then-shadow cabinet members and other Labour MPs, campaigned for Velleman in Barnet, north London, in both 2018 and 2022.
A now-deleted social media post by Sir Keir tagged Velleman with a message wishing him luck, while Chancellor Rachel Reeves publicly praised him as “brilliant” during a Labour Friends of Israel event.
Other ministers who campaigned for Velleman include Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Courts Minister Sarah Sackman KC, Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones, Employment Minister Diana Johnson, and School Standards Minister Georgia Gould. At the time, some were shadow ministers, others were MPs preparing for future roles.
The Offences That Shook the Party
According to court records, Velleman sent messages online to someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, requesting to see her in school uniform and asking if she was “home alone.” He also shared a sexually explicit video and asked to see her in underwear.
Unknown to Velleman, he was actually communicating with an undercover police officer. The offences were committed in December 2024, and he has pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court. The prosecution argued the case was too serious for magistrates, and sentencing will occur later this year.
Velleman’s Political Career and Associations
Velleman served as a councillor in Barnet and also worked with anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate, advising on the Online Safety Bill. He resigned from his councillor role in April 2025 without explanation.
Photographs have surfaced of him with Labour figures, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, highlighting the breadth of his political connections.
Labour has stated that no one could have predicted his criminal actions. A party spokesperson described the offences as “sickening” and confirmed that Velleman was immediately suspended following his arrest.
Public and Political Reactions
The scandal has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Tory MP Jack Rankin said: “Starmer pledged to tackle violence against women and girls, yet sex offenders threaten to be the defining issue of his premiership.”
Labour is now under pressure to review candidate vetting and ensure robust safeguarding measures are in place to prevent similar incidents.
A Wider Context of Controversies
This episode coincides with another Labour controversy: the Prime Minister faced criticism over awarding a peerage to former communications chief Matthew Doyle, who maintained connections with a councillor charged with child sex offences. The timing has intensified scrutiny on Labour’s internal processes and political judgment.
What’s Next?
Labour faces the dual challenge of managing public outrage and ensuring that its candidates undergo stricter vetting. Velleman will be sentenced in the coming months, and the party is expected to announce additional safeguarding measures.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are likely to continue pressing Labour on its internal oversight and the wider implications for trust in political institutions.
Summary
Labour is under intense scrutiny after it emerged that Liron Velleman, a councillor who has admitted child sex offences, was backed on the campaign trail by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and several cabinet ministers.
Velleman sent lewd messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover police officer. The party says no one could have known about his crimes, and he was immediately suspended.
The revelations have sparked criticism from opposition MPs and raised questions about vetting processes and political oversight within Labour.
