Andy Burnham Faces Labour Conference Storm Over Migration and Left Criticism Andy Burnham faces a stormy Labour conference in Liverpool, with ministers divided over migration plans and Left-wingers accusing him of ghosting them. Andy Burnham is facing a stormy Labour conference in Liverpool today, with ministers clashing on migration and the Left accusing him of ghosting them. The Prime Minister is kicking off his first gathering since ousting Keir Starmer, but there is mounting evidence that the same bitter infighting will blight his leadership. Tensions have flared after Angela Rayner doubled down on her criticism of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s un-British plans to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent residence in the UK. Migration Policy Sparks Cabinet ClashMs Rayner insisted this morning that there were no splits and pointed out that Mr Burnham wanted ministers to do politics differently by speaking out. She said they were not having an argument about immigration but a national conversation. However, the Housing Secretary’s intervention has been described by MPs as a drive-by shooting.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sided with the Home Secretary on Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday. She said Ms Mahmood was taking great care and had the support of the Cabinet in doing so. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said that if Andy Burnham’s Cabinet are already at war with each other over small changes to the immigration system, how can they ever be trusted to stop the boats.The proposed visa clampdown effectively changes the goalposts for migrants already living in Britain, particularly those working in social care, according to Ms Rayner. The plan aims to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent residence in the UK.Left-Wingers Criticize Burnham’s ApproachLeft-wingers have been openly sniping at Mr Burnham’s approach. Clive Lewis, once a fervent ally who suggested he could stand down so the former Manchester mayor could re-enter the Commons, said the PM had left his allies behind on entering No10 and behaved terribly. Speaking on the Labour Left Podcast, Mr Lewis was asked whether Labour was on track for a reset. The Norwich South MP replied that where they are at the moment, no. He said Mr Burnham’s administration was an improvement but not a government of all wings of the party, and that the Left were firmly kept outside of it.He suggested Mr Burnham had been swept to the door of No10 by the Left, but then done a deal to take power without them. Veteran campaigner Neal Lawson, previously tipped to advise Mr Burnham in No10, accused him of jettisoning plans for wealth taxes and rent controls, and downgrading a nationalisation push.In an interview with the Guardian ahead of conference, Mr Burnham insisted he could bring forward a radical reform agenda while maintaining the public finances. He suggested the public would have more respect if they go and grab something difficult and say they are going to do something here, rather than constantly playing the political game before fixing the problems. He added that it is challenging, but there are still things that you can do, and he is prepared to do them.Economic Pressures and Budget DecisionsThe internal warring comes against an increasingly bleak backdrop for the Government, with the Middle East crisis wreaking havoc on the public finances. Chancellor John Healey admitted in an interview today that he might need to act on fuel duty, which is scheduled to rise at a time when drivers are facing rocketing prices at the pumps. However, with markets alarmed at UK borrowing levels that would require him to find billions of pounds more from other tax rises or spending cuts, the latter of which would meet stern resistance from Labour MPs.Ahead of his first Budget on October 28, Mr Healey also signalled he understands concerns about an exodus of rich individuals from the UK, saying he wanted people to stay to create jobs and wealth. He told the Sunday Times he was mulling over whether a planned fuel duty rise should go ahead. He said he is conscious of these pressures and will take them into account when he makes his Budget decisions.The Chancellor also gave a veiled hint that capital gains tax could rise at the Budget, saying it was currently the lowest of any European G7 nation. Cabinet colleagues Louise Haigh and Wes Streeting have backed such a move, but economists have warned it could backfire by driving out wealth creation.Mr Burnham has made hope again the slogan of his first Labour conference. The Prime Minister is in Liverpool kicking off his first gathering since ousting Keir Starmer. The conference takes place amid mounting evidence that the same bitter infighting will blight his leadership.Andy Burnham is pictured with Chancellor John Healey yesterday. The internal divisions and economic challenges are expected to dominate the conference as the Government seeks to present a united front.