Andy Burnham is facing criticism over plans to invite Russia to send a delegation to next year’s G20 summit in Manchester, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Government sources said Russia could not be excluded because there is no consensus among G20 members, but critics argue its attendance would suggest relations with Moscow are being normalised and provide the Kremlin with valuable propaganda.

Officials reportedly do not expect Vladimir Putin to attend personally because a British court could uphold an International Criminal Court arrest warrant concerning alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Opposition figures and some security and government sources said Russian participation would be inappropriate, while the Government maintained that the G20 is consensus-based and that member states decide who represents them; Downing Street also reaffirmed Burnham’s support for Ukraine.