Labour faces by-election as suspended MP steps down - opening way for Andy Burnham leadership challenge

Andrew Gwynne, who was sacked as a minister and suspended from the Labour Party last year over offensive messages in a WhatsApp group, announced the move on Thursday, triggering a by-election in Greater Manchester.

Mr Gwynne has denied that he was intending to vacate his Gorton and Denton seat any time soon, but The Times has reported he will announce his departure later on Thursday.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is said to be seeking a Commons comeback to challenge the Prime Minister’s position.

Read more: Andy Burnham 'agrees secret deal’ to run as MP amid rumours of Labour leadership challenge

Mr Burnham, who has served as mayor of the region since 2017, has argued for a Westminster revamp and hit out at the current system of governing.

He has repeatedly refused to rule out challenging for the leadership of the Labour Party.

Sir Keir has previously dismissed talk of leadership challenges as “wasted” time.

A source close to Mr Burnham told LBC: "We’ve not been in touch with anyone and aren’t aware of what is developing, we’re not in any loop."

Mr Burnham is one of the clear front-runners to replace Starmer if he is ousted as PM, alongside the likes of Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner.

Ms Rayner is said to have "done a deal" to back Burnham as the next Labour leader in return for becoming Deputy Prime Minister again.

Sources claim the 45-year-old has agreed to support Mr Burnham if he is to launch his own leadership bid against Sir Keir Starmer.

She is believed to be in line for a return to Deputy PM as well as an unspecified senior Cabinet position if it goes ahead.

Speaking to LBC's Andrew Marr, Manchester MP, Graham Stringer, warned Reform could take control of Manchester if Mr Burnham were to step down.

"If Andy was to step down as Mayor and to go for Denton and Gorton, he may or may not win that, but we would be having to fight an election across Manchester for the Mayor of Greater Manchester, and you only have to look at the opinion polls to see that Reform might win that," he said.

"Now, I don’t want to be a Labour MP in Greater Manchester with a Reform Mayor. I get asked a lot if I’m going to step down and my answer is always no, because I gave a commitment at the General Election to be as good of an MP as I could be for Blackley and Middleton South. Andy gave a similar commitment to be Mayor.

"And I think the electorate hate being used. The electorate of Denton and Gorton would want somebody who was interested in Denton and Gorton.

"Now, Andy at the moment represents the whole of Greater Manchester. He has not got a particular interest in Denton and Gorton as far as I’m aware. And I think we’d be open to one of these really nasty by-election campaigns."