'I wouldn't rule it out' Greens see Burnham as potential ally

The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has said he would refuse to work with Keir Starmer but would work with his potential leadership rival Andy Burnham to keep Reform out of power.

- Robyn Vinter

Polanski said he would not enter a political partnership with Labour under the current prime minister, but he would consider it if the mayor of Greater Manchester was at the helm.

He told the Financial Times: “I could see the potential to work with Andy Burnham to stop Reform and to challenge the rise of the far right. I would rule it out with Keir Starmer, but I wouldn’t rule it out with Burnham.”

A coalition would require the Greens getting an adequate number of seats at the next general election to make the party useful to Labour, and it would also need Burnham to once again gain a seat as an MP.