Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has ignited controversy within the Labour Party by agreeing to speak at a progressive rally alongside prominent figures from the Green Party and Liberal Democrats. The event, organized by the left-wing group Compass, is scheduled for late May and aims to demonstrate cross-party cooperation among progressives. However, its timing—just weeks after local elections where Labour is competing directly with the Greens—has drawn sharp criticism from some Labour MPs.
Details of the Change:Now Event
The rally, titled Change:Now, will take place on 30 May in east London. It is designed as a day of debate and deliberation among progressives from various parties. Speakers include Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader; Vince Cable, former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister; and Lib Dem MP Roz Savage. Labour figures such as Clive Lewis and Miatta Fahnbulleh are also scheduled to appear. Burnham has long advocated for cross-party collaboration, but this event has been perceived by some as undermining Labour's electoral strategy.
Labour MPs Express Anger
Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham and a supporter of Keir Starmer, voiced strong objections. He argued that Labour members should not share a platform with Greens, citing recent antisemitism controversies within the Green Party. Two Green candidates in London were arrested for alleged antisemitic social media posts, and the party is investigating others. Akehurst stated: "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."
Another Labour MP, speaking anonymously, criticized the timing: "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; now he wants to work with another party riddled with antisemitism? It’s unconscionable."
Burnham's Defense and Allies' Response
Burnham himself did not comment, but an ally defended his involvement: "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?" The ally emphasized that Burnham remains committed to Labour and is simply fostering dialogue.
Broader Political Context
Burnham is widely seen as a potential challenger to Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership, alongside Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting. Unlike the others, Burnham would need to secure a Westminster seat, a goal that was thwarted earlier this year when Labour's NEC blocked his candidacy in Gorton and Denton. The Change:Now event has reignited debates about progressive alliances, with some arguing that collaboration is necessary due to the splintering of the left-wing vote—the Greens have doubled their poll rating since early last year. Others insist Labour should confront the Greens directly on issues like the economy, national security, and antisemitism.
The event is expected to draw significant attention, especially after the local elections, as Burnham positions himself as a unifying figure for the left. However, internal party tensions underscore the challenges of balancing progressive ideals with electoral pragmatism.
