Sadiq Khan says Andy Burnham should be allowed to stand as an MP if he ‘wants to’ as decision deadline looms for Manchester mayor
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said Andy Burnham should be allowed to become an MP ‘if he wants’ because the deadline for him to make a decision is approaching.
Mr Khan said he would even be willing to campaign on behalf of the Mayor of Greater Manchester in remarks at the Fabian Society’s annual conference in London on Saturday.
Mr Burnham could stand as the party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election following the resignation of Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Glynne.
The mayor of Greater Manchester, who has been tipped as a potential rival to Sir Keir’s leadership, has until 5pm today to decide whether to run.
Mr Burnham, who is widely believed to have ambitions of leading the party, has yet to comment either way.
But if he does put himself forward, he will have to appeal to Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) to do so.
The Mayor of London told the Fabian Society conference in London on Saturday: ‘I think if Andy Burnham wants to be a member of Parliament, Andy Burnham should be allowed to be a member of Parliament.
‘I’m a firm believer that the best team will have all the talent playing for them and if Andy wants to return to Parliament I’ll take some time between now and the by-election to try and knock on some doors for him or whoever the candidate is.’
Angela Rayner was photographed campaigning with Labor mayor Andy Burnham in Birmingham in May last year
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he would even be willing to campaign on behalf of the Mayor of Greater Manchester, speaking at the Fabian Society’s annual conference in London on Saturday.
It comes after Labor Deputy Leader Lucy Powell said the question of whether Mr Burnham should run for parliament ‘should be up to Andy and local members’.
Ms Powell did not publicly call for Mr Burnham to stand in the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-elections, saying he would have to make up his own mind.
Reports have suggested that the Prime Minister’s supporters in the NEC may try to block his candidacy, either out of fear that he will destabilize the Government or to prevent another by-election for the mayoralty of Greater Manchester.
Meanwhile, many within the party have called for Mr Burnham to be allowed to stand, with Angela Rayner expected to join them later on Saturday.
In London, Ms Powell said she wanted ‘the best candidate’ to be elected and described Mr Burnham as ‘incredibly popular’.
Asked whether this meant Labour’s national executive committee would allow Mr Burnham to stand, he said: ‘He needs to decide for himself what he wants to do and he has until five o’clock today.
‘Andy Burnham is incredibly popular in my world.
‘He’s an incredibly popular politician because he’s really changing our city for the better.’
Labor Deputy Leader Lucy Powell speaks at the Fabian Society 2026 New Year Conference in the Guildhall
He added: ‘I think we should all come together and really celebrate where Labor is doing great work.
‘So it must be up to Andy and the local members to choose their candidates, and our members are extremely understanding.’
Andrew Gwynne, the former MP for Gorton and Denton, officially stepped down on Friday due to health issues, paving the way for a by-election.
Candidates to replace him must nominate their names before midnight Sunday.
Mr Burnham faces multiple hurdles to contest the seat, including having to stand down from his current role, being approved by the NEC and seeing off Reform UK.
While Labor won the seat of Gorton and Denton in 2024 with 51 per cent of the vote, it is now a three-way marginal.
Reformation has promised to ‘throw it all away’ and Green Party leader Zack Polanski is said to be following suit in another reversal that could split the Left vote.
On Friday, health minister Stephen Kinnock said Mr Burnham had done a good job as mayor and made a veiled suggestion that he remain in the post.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also said the party did not want another leader because it would result in an election.
Mr Burnham, who has been mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, was MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017 and twice represented the Labor leadership.
