There are rumours of job shuffles across the region
Andy Burnham has been at the centre of speculation over his future(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A Greater Manchester MP suspended by the Labour party has broken his silence over rumours he could stand aside for Andy Burnham.
The region’s mayor has been widely talked about as a possible challenger to Sir Keir Starmer’s position as Labour leader and Prime Minister.
Mr Burnham would need to return to Westminster as an MP in order to challenge for the role, and speculation in recent weeks has suggested he could replace Andrew Gwynne as MP for Gorton and Denton.
It comes as Labour has struggled in the polls for several months, while Labour has faced a chaotic few weeks with the resignation of deputy PM Angela Rayner and the sacking of Peter Mandleson as ambassador to the United States.
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Mr Burnham has long been talked of as a potential candidate for Labour leader – with recent YouGov polling suggesting one in five Britons think he could be a ‘good’ or ‘great’ PM, behind only Nigel Farage of Reform UK, while Survation and Ipsos polling also found the mayor to be the most popular potential leader among Labour members.
Andy Burnham (right) is seen as a potential challenger to Sir Keir Starmer(Image: Getty Images)
The former Leigh MP has only stoked the speculation further in recent weeks too, having been a key figure in the launch of a new Labour group called Mainstream and called for Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell to be elected as deputy leader.
And speaking on BBC Radio Manchester earlier this week, Mr Burnham refused to rule out a return to Westminster.
Mr Gwynne was suspended by Labour after being accused of making anti-Semitic, sexist and racist remarks in a WhatsApp group with other local Labour figures earlier this year.
He continues to serve Gorton and Denton as an independent MP, although he revealed in June he had been signed off from work due to a period of ill health.
Andrew Gwynne was suspended by the party earlier this year(Image: Getty Images)
Sources had suggested Mr Gwynne, regarded as an ally of Mr Burnham, could step down and provide the mayor with an opportunity to return to the House of Commons.
But Mr Gwynne, a former Tameside councillor, has now publicly rejected the idea.
He told The Times: “In order to end the tedious speculation about my seat while I’m trying to recover from a period of ill health, it is my intention to serve a full term.”
Mr Gwynne added: “The route to No. 10 is not going to be through Gorton and Denton.”
Labour veteran Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Middleton South, has also recently denied rumours he could step down for Mr Burnham – telling Times Radio he would ‘see a full term out’.
Veteran MP Graham Stringer(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Speaking to the BBC earlier this week, Mr Burnham insisted he was not the source of speculation about his future, but refused to rule out a return to Westminster.
“I haven’t ever ruled out going back to Westminster,” he said.
“I’ve said that over the years. Obviously, I do watch what’s going on down there, so I’m not saying ‘not’.
“But it wouldn’t be me saying ‘right I’m going to put myself right out there again’. It would have to come from a different direction of people.”
The latest YouGov poll puts Reform UK as the most popular party at 27 per cent, ahead of Labour in second on 21 per cent. Nigel Farage’s party has led Labour in YouGov polling since April amid concerns around immigration.
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Mr Burnham twice failed to be elected as Labour party leader in 2010 and 2015, prior to quitting Westminster for the role of Greater Manchester mayor in 2017.