Andy Burnham has signalled that he is likely to support legislation adding “Black English” and “Asian English” options to the ethnicity question on England’s census, while cautioning that he has not examined the bill’s details.

The proposal, drawn up by Liberal Democrat president Josh Babarinde, has cross-party backing, according to reporting by Peter Walker in The Guardian. Supporters include David Lammy, a former Labour deputy prime minister, and James Cleverly, the Conservative former foreign secretary.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey raised the proposal at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday. He challenged the idea that only white people can be English and argued that the census should change to reflect a broader understanding of English identity.

In England, the census ethnicity question offers “English” only within the “White” category, The Guardian reported. Asian, Black, mixed and other respondents can identify as British through the available categories, but do not have an equivalent English option.

Scotland and Wales offer choices such as “Scottish Asian” and “Black Welsh”. The Guardian also reported that about 11 per cent of the UK-born population in England and Wales is from a minority ethnic background.

Responding to Davey, Burnham praised Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch for rejecting an ethnic basis for Englishness and said the issue should rise above party politics.

“I haven’t looked at the detail of the bill, but I stand here thinking that I would want to support that bill,” Burnham said, describing it as a way to challenge divisive politics.

The initiative follows claims by Reform UK politicians, including Suella Braverman, that people from minority ethnic backgrounds cannot have an English ethnic identity, according to The Guardian.

Babarinde’s proposal is a 10-minute rule bill. Its prospects of becoming law depend on the government providing time for it in the House of Commons; Burnham’s comments did not amount to that commitment.

Explaining his proposal to The Guardian earlier this week, Babarinde said: “I’m a proud Englishman and Englishness is about more than the colour of your skin.”

Sources