A Labour MP facing suspension is anticipated to resign, potentially opening the door for Andy Burnham to make a comeback to Parliament. Speculation suggests that Andrew Gwynne might step down to trigger a by-election, although he has previously denied such claims. Nonetheless, The Times has reported that he will announce his resignation later today.
According to The Guardian, Mr. Gwynne has allegedly agreed to retire. The Gorton & Denton MP in the North West had his Labour whip removed last year due to offensive messages on WhatsApp. If these reports are accurate, it could signal Andy Burnham’s interest in entering the fray, positioning himself to challenge Keir Starmer.
Mr. Burnham, who has been linked to a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister for months, would first need to secure a return to the House of Commons. Additionally, he would require support from a national executive committee (NEC) panel to be considered as a candidate.
Responding to the speculations on BBC radio, Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed well wishes for Mr. Gwynne, stating the importance of having a strong candidate for any potential by-election. He also highlighted the need for formidable candidates to step forward if there is indeed a vacancy.
Mr. Burnham previously criticized Mr. Starmer’s leadership team, calling for substantial changes to address what he perceives as a “climate of fear” within the Labour Party. Referred to as the “King of the North,” Mr. Burnham revealed that Labour MPs had encouraged him to challenge the leadership during the summer.
Despite ongoing rumors, Mr. Gwynne has consistently downplayed any intentions of resigning. In a statement in September, he affirmed his commitment to serving a full term and dismissed the notion that his seat would be a stepping stone to 10 Downing Street.
The Prime Minister dismissed Mr. Gwynne as a health minister in February following revelations of inappropriate messages in a WhatsApp group. The messages included derogatory remarks about individuals’ identities and offensive comments about fellow politicians.
The Mirror has reached out to Mr. Gwynne for comment.
