Andy Burnham Faces Stormy Labour Conference Over Migration and Left Criticism Andy Burnham's first Labour conference as PM is marred by internal clashes on migration and Left accusations of ghosting, as Chancellor John Healey hints at Budget tax decisions. Andy Burnham is facing a stormy Labour conference in Liverpool today, with ministers clashing over migration policy and left-wingers accusing him of ghosting them. The Prime Minister is kicking off his first gathering since ousting Keir Starmer, but the event is overshadowed by bitter infighting that threatens his leadership. Tensions flared after Housing Secretary Angela Rayner doubled down on her criticism of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's plans to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent residence in the UK, which she labeled un-British. Rayner insisted this morning that there were no splits and pointed out that Burnham wanted ministers to do politics differently by speaking out.We are not having an argument about immigration, we are having a conversation – a national conversation, she told Sky News. But the Housing Secretary's intervention has been described by MPs as a drive-by shooting.Migration Policy Sparks Cabinet RiftsThe internal divisions come as Burnham tries to manage a party already fractious over immigration. Rayner fired the first shots of the civil war yesterday by insisting the proposed visa clampdown effectively changed the goalposts for migrants already living in Britain, particularly those working in social care.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy then sided with the Home Secretary on Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday. She said Ms Mahmood was taking great care and she has the support of the Cabinet in doing so.Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: 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?Meanwhile, left-wingers have been openly sniping at Burnham's approach. Clive Lewis, once such 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.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.Speaking on the Labour Left Podcast, Mr Lewis was asked whether Labour was on track for a reset. The Norwich South MP replied: I would say where we are at the moment: no. Mr Lewis said Mr Burnham's administration was an improvement but not a government of all wings of the party. The Left were firmly kept outside of it, he said. 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.Economic Challenges 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.In what could be the latest step to help households with the cost-of-living crisis, Mr Healey told the Sunday Times he was mulling over whether a planned fuel duty rise should go ahead. I'm conscious of these pressures and I will take them into account when I make my Budget decisions, he said.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.Burnham's Leadership Under ScrutinyIn 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 for us if we go and grab something difficult … and say, right, we're going to do something here, rather than constantly playing the political game before fixing the problems.He added: It's challenging, definitely, but there are still things that you can do. Always in politics, there are things that you can do. The question is sometimes, are you prepared to do them? Yeah, I am prepared to do them.Mr Burnham has made hope again the slogan of his first Labour conference, but the gathering is marred by internal conflicts. The Prime Minister is pictured with Chancellor John Healey yesterday as he faces a stormy Labour conference today with ministers clashing on migration and the Left accusing him of ghosting them.The coming days will test Burnham's ability to unite his party and address the pressing issues facing the nation.