Greater Manchester mayor Burnham holds talks with deputy Israeli ambassador
Oren Marmorstein said he was left 'enthusiastic about the promising collaboarations ahead for Israel and Greater Manchester' after meeting with Labour mayor Andy Burnham at the Tory Party Conference
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has held “positive” talks with Israel’s deputy ambassador to the UK during the Conservative Party’s conference in the city.
The pair were photographed warmly shaking hands on Monday, after engaging in a discussion that is believed to have touched on future trade opportunities and maintaining contacts.
Deputy ambassador Oren Marmorstein tweeted:”Just met Andy Burnham this morning. It left me enthusiastic about the promising collaboarations ahead for Israel and Greater Manchester.”
Burnham, who admitted “frustration and anger” on Wednesday, after prime minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the decision to axe the HS2 rail link between Birmingham and Manchester, has made his support for the Labour of Israel group in the past.
Good morning Manchester!
Just met @AndyBurnhamGM this morning. It left me enthusiastic about the promising collaborations ahead for Israel ???????? and Greater Manchester ???????? pic.twitter.com/JcEJbnDzTZ
— Oren Marmorstein (@OrenMarmorstein) October 3, 2023
When running unsuccessfully for the Labour leadership in 2015, he told an audience at JW3 in north London that if winning his first foreign trip would be to Israel.
He also told the same audience that the 2017 centenary of the Balfour declaration should be marked by school lessons to “reeducate an entire generation” about the link between British values and the Jewish state.
But Burnham also later leant his support to Jeremy Corbyn as leader, although in 2019 he told a Jewish audience in Manchester that this support was not “unconditional or unchallenged”.
One Jewish Labour source said of his meeting this week with the Israeli official;”Quite something that Israeli diplomats are going to Tory conference and meeting with Labour politicians!”
Marmorstein also tweeted photographs of himself with Conservative MPs in Manchester including science secretary Michelle Donelan and Harrow East MP Bob Blackman.
Jewish News has contacted Burnham’s office for further comment on his meeting with the Israeli diplomat.
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