MP expected to step down potentially paving way for Burnham’s return

Ministers and party officials believe former Labor Minister Andrew Gwynne is on the verge of leaving his MP position.

The move could potentially pave the way for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to the House of Commons and mount a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer.

Gwynne was elected as a Labor MP but was suspended in 2025 after a newspaper reported disturbing messages he had sent to a WhatsApp Group.

His departure from the House of Commons will trigger a by-election in Manchester Gorton and Denton constituency, where Labor won with a 13,000 majority at the last election. Gwynne has been contacted for comment.

A senior source told the BBC that Gwynne agreed a pension deal on Thursday, allowing her to retire as an MP on medical grounds, but warned it was uncertain whether an announcement would come today, although they believed there was a good chance Gwynne would leave.

There was speculation that Burnham might want to replace Sir Keir as party leader, but he would only be eligible to enter any leadership contest as a Labor MP.

If the seat of Gorton and Denton becomes vacant, Burnham will need approval to stand as a candidate from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which is widely thought to support Sir Keir.

Several Labor sources said they expected the NEC to object if Burnham stood for Parliament on the grounds that it would trigger a by-election for Greater Manchester mayor, which would run out of party funds and be seen as politically risky.

It is also possible that the NEC will insist on an all-female shortlist of possible Labor candidates for a by-election in the House of Commons because the majority of the party’s MPs are currently male.

But others in the party questioned whether he could withstand the potential backlash from Labor MPs who want him to return to parliament even if the NEC prevents Burnham from standing.

If Labor’s candidate is elected, he will still need to win the by-election in Gorton and Denton at a time when the party’s popularity is low; but recent polls suggest Labor may retain the seat.

Gwynne won the 2024 general election by 18,000 votes. The Reform UK candidate came second with 5,000 votes, just ahead of the Greens who received 4,810 votes.

Burnham has previously not denied she could challenge Sir Keir, saying: “I’m not going to rule out what may or may not happen in the future.”

Asked about Gwynne’s possible resignation, Health Minister Wes Streeting said: “I’m aware that he’s had very serious health problems. And you know, despite all the other difficulties he’s had and some of the difficulties he’s had, I wish him and his family the best of luck.”

“Whether Andy steps into the ring is a matter for Andy to evaluate and ultimately for party members to decide, but we need strong candidates.”

“Whether it’s in government at the national level or locally leading the city and region, it makes a huge impact and really makes a big difference.”

Gwynne was sacked as health secretary and suspended from the Labor Party last year after the Mail on Sunday published some of his private messages, including one disparaging an elderly constituent.

Gwynne apologized for the insult and said she regretted the “misjudged” comments on the Trigger Me Timbers WhatsApp group.

The parliamentary commissioner responsible for standards launched an investigation that has not yet been concluded even though 11 months have passed.