Andy Burnham sparks Labour anger with appearance alongside Greens

Andy Burnham’s decision to appear at a progressive rally alongside prominent Green and Liberal Democrat figures has sparked anger among some Labour MPs, who have accused him of undermining their local election message.

The Greater Manchester mayor, who is seen as one of the most likely challengers to Keir Starmer, will be speaking at the Change:Now event this month organised by the left-wing group Compass.

Compass’s founder, Neal Lawson, has long campaigned for a cross-party progressive alliance but is also a prominent supporter of Burnham.

Two other Labour MPs, Clive Lewis, who has offered to give up his seat for Burnham, and Miatta Fahnbulleh, the communities minister, are also due to speak at the event. Other speakers include Caroline Lucas, the former Green party leader; James Meadway, head of the Green-aligned thinktank Verdant; Vince Cable, the former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister; and the Lib Dem MP Roz Savage.

The event is designed to show how progressives can work across party barriers, something Burnham has long advocated. But its timing, just weeks after local elections which are pitting Labour against the Greens in many places, has infuriated many of his colleagues.

Luke Akehurst, MP for North Durham and a supporter of Starmer, said fellow Labour members should not be speaking at an event with Green politicians and campaigners given the recent antisemitism controversies their party has faced. Two Green candidates in London were recently arrested for alleged antisemitic social media posts, while the party is investigating others over what they have posted online.

“Anyone in the Labour party who has been advancing the concept of a progressive alliance involving the Greens should surely be reconsidering this at the moment given the revelations about the extent of antisemitism amongst their council candidates,” Akehurst said.

Another Labour MP said: “Activists and candidates around the country are fighting for Labour seats on councils, now is not the time to talk about coalitions.

“It was bad enough when Andy said he’d ‘work with [Jeremy] Corbyn’ (and Your Party), now he wants to work with another party riddled with antisemitism? It’s unconscionable.”

Burnham did not comment. An ally said, however: “It’s ridiculous to suggest Andy is supporting other parties. He is advancing progressive ideas to help the Labour party. Do people not want anyone sharing ideas or having a debate about where progressives should go?”