Andy Burnham’s Cross-Party Rally Sparks Labour Backlash Ahead of Leadership Contest

On 30 May, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham will address the “Change:Now” event in east London, organized by the left-wing think-tank Compass. The event is described as “a day of debate, disagreement and deliberation between progressives of all parties” and will include speakers from Labour, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats.

The Guardian

Compass founder Neal Lawson has long promoted a cross-party progressive alliance. Burnham has repeatedly backed Compass proposals such as proportional representation and broader collaboration. The rally’s timing, weeks after local elections in which Labour and the Greens contested many council seats, has heightened internal Labour debate.

The Guardian

Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester, prospective Labour leadership contender), Labour MPs Clive Lewis and Miatta Fahnbulleh, former Green leader Caroline Lucas, Verdant head James Meadway, former Liberal Democrat cabinet minister Vince Cable and Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage are slated to speak.

The Guardian

• Early May 2026: Local elections pit Labour against the Greens in numerous councils.

The Guardian

• 30 May 2026: “Change:Now” event in east London.

The Guardian

• After the event: Media focus shifts to Burnham as one of three likely challengers to Labour leader Keir Starmer, alongside Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting.

The Guardian

The Green Party’s poll rating has doubled since early 2025, intensifying concerns about a fragmented left-wing vote.

The Guardian

Burnham’s participation is seen by some as a strategic response to the rising Green vote, while others argue Labour should confront the Green challenge directly on issues such as the economy, national security and antisemitism. The episode may affect the upcoming leadership contest, especially as Burnham must first win a Westminster seat after being barred from standing in Gorton and Denton by Labour’s national executive committee.

The Guardian

Labour MP Luke Akehurst warned that the alliance should be reconsidered in light of recent antisemitism allegations against Green council candidates.

The Guardian

Several Labour MPs contend that the rally distracts from local election battles and that collaborating with a party facing antisemitism investigations is “unconscionable.” They argue activists should focus on defending Labour council seats rather than discussing coalitions.

The Guardian

• “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,” — Luke Akehurst, MP for North Durham.

The Guardian

• “a day of debate, disagreement and deliberation between progressives of all parties” — Compass event description.

The Guardian

Burnham declined to comment on the criticism. The sources do not provide responses from Clive Lewis or Miatta Fahnbulleh.

The Guardian

The “Change:Now” rally will be examined in the days after the local elections. Burnham’s performance and Labour’s senior-level reactions are expected to shape the narrative of the forthcoming Labour leadership contest.

The Guardian