Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said he is “in the dark” about reports that suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne could stand down, potentially opening a path for Mr Burnham to enter Parliament. Mr Gwynne, who was sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party last year over offensive messages in a WhatsApp group, is reportedly planning to resign his Gorton and Denton seat, triggering a by-election.
Asked about the rumours by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Burnham said he had had no contact with Mr Gwynne or his allies. “I’m as in the dark about this as anyone,” he added, while insisting he remained “very focused” on his mayoral role and had recently unveiled a re-industrialisation plan for the region. He did not rule out standing as a candidate if a vacancy arises.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged a by-election might be on the cards, telling broadcasters the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) would set out the process “in the usual way”. He declined to say whether he supported the idea of Mr Burnham standing, but praised the mayor’s work, noting their collaboration on issues such as the response to a synagogue attack and Northern Powerhouse Rail.
Mr Burnham, who has served as mayor since 2017, has previously criticised Westminster’s governance model and refused to rule out a future Labour leadership challenge. However, Sir Keir has dismissed such speculation as a waste of time.
If Mr Gwynne steps down, Mr Burnham’s path to selection is not straightforward. The NEC compiles a long list of candidates, which is then shortlisted by local party members before internal elections. Additionally, Labour’s rulebook requires an elected mayor to seek explicit NEC permission before seeking nomination. Mr Gwynne comfortably won the seat at the 2024 general election with 50% of the vote, ahead of Reform UK’s Lee Moffitt on 14%, though national polls suggest a closer contest at a by-election.
