Burnham sparks Labour anger with plan to appear at event alongside Greens | Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham’s decision to attend a progressive rally alongside leading Green and Liberal Democrat figures has sparked anger among some Labor MPs who accused him of undermining their local election message.

The mayor of Greater Manchester, seen as one of the most likely rivals to Keir Starmer for the Labor leadership, will speak at the conference. Change:Now event It was organized this month by the left-wing group Compass.

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

The other two Labor MPs are Clive Lewis. who offered Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, who will give up her seat for Burnham, will also speak at the event. Other speakers include former Green party leader Caroline Lucas; James Meadway, chairman of the pro-Green think tank Verdant; Former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Vince Cable; and Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage.

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

North Durham MP and Starmer supporter Luke Akehurst said Labor members should not be speaking to Green politicians and campaigners at an event, given the recent antisemitism controversy their party has faced. Two Green candidates in London were recently arrested for anti-Semitic social media posts, while the party is investigating other candidates for what they posted online.

“Anyone in Labor who has been advancing the notion of a progressive alliance that includes the Greens certainly needs to rethink that now, given what has emerged about the extent of antisemitism among council candidates,” Akehurst said.

Another Labor MP said: “Activists and candidates up and down the country are fighting for Labor seats on councils; now is not the time to talk about coalitions. “It was bad enough for Andy to say he would work together. [Jeremy] Corbyn (and your Party); Now he wants to work with another party full of antisemitism? “This is illogical.”

Burnham did not comment. One ally said: “It’s ridiculous to suggest Andy supports other parties. He’s promoting progressive ideas to help Labor. Don’t people want anyone sharing ideas or debating where progressives should go?”

Lawson defended the event, arguing that it represented a crucial path to progressive success. “In a multi-party reality, progressives facing hugely complex issues will have to work together on ideas that will defeat Reformation and the causes of Reformation,” he said. “As the old politics of factionalism and extreme tribalism alienate the public from politics, we need space to think about policies that will change the country for the better.”

Fahnbulleh and Lewis have been contacted for comment.

The event, which will take place in east London on May 30, will bring together think tanks, politicians and academics for “a day of debate, disagreement and debate between progressives of all parties”.

Burnham has supported many of Compass’ ideas in recent years, including the introduction of proportional representation and encouraging greater cross-party cooperation. Some on the left believe this is the most rational response to the splitting of the left-wing vote, with the Greens doubling their points in the polls since the beginning of last year.

But others believe Labor should be willing to tackle the Green threat head-on and challenge the party on issues such as the economy, national security and antisemitism. They point out that as the Greens’ support has grown, they have attracted many from the Corbyni wing of the Labor Party, from which Starmer seized control to become leader.

In the days after this week’s election, attention is likely to focus on Burnham, who is one of three possible challengers to challenge Starmer, along with former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and health minister Wes Streeting.

Unlike the other two, Burnham first needed to win a Westminster seat; He was denied the chance earlier this year when Labour’s ruling national executive committee said it could not stand Gorton and Denton.