Labour figures who wrote competing ‘manifestos’ join forces to warn against tribalism

Lawrence and McVitie said that they believed Labour’s future would emerge by taking lessons from both of their arguments. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Two of Labour’s leading policy figures, who put forward “manifestos” for Andy Burnham and a centrist grouping, are to join forces to help forge new ideas for a future government.

The authors of the two essays – which have previously been described as competing visions for a Burnham- or Wes Streeting-led government – said Labour urgently required a serious intellectual debate about its direction rather than simply a change of personality.