Burnham tipped to stand as Labour ex-minister resigns

A former Labour minister who had the whip removed over offensive WhatsApp messages has stood down as an MP, clearing the way for Sir Keir Starmer's potential leadership rival Andy Burnham.

- MILLIE COOKE ATHENA STAVROU KATE DEVLIN

Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Gorton and Denton, had previously denied that he was intending to vacate the seat, saying in September that the “route to No 10 is not going to be through” his seat. But Mr Gwynne, who has been away from parliament on sick leave, announced his resignation yesterday afternoon.

His departure creates a route for Mr Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, to make a Commons comeback that would allow him to challenge Sir Keir’s leadership, following speculation that he could stand in the upcoming by-election.

If successful, he could return to parliament just as the prime minister reaches his lowest ebb, with Scottish and Welsh elections and English council elections in May expected to be disastrous for Labour.

Mr Gwynne was sacked as a health minister and suspended from the Labour Party in February last year over comments made in a WhatsApp group. He reportedly posted sexist comments about Angela Rayner, racist remarks about the Labour MP Diane Abbott and joked in a closed group chat with Labour figures based around Manchester about an elderly woman dying.

At the time, he publicly apologised and said he regretted the “badly misjudged” remarks.

Mr Gwynne confirmed yesterday that he would stand down from his Gorton and Denton constituency, citing health reasons, after reports suggested he was prepared to do so.

In a post on Facebook, he wrote: “It has been the honour of my life to have been an elected representative for almost exactly three decades. Over those years I haven’t got everything right and I’ve certainly made mistakes, but I’ve always tried my very best and I have helped tens of thousands of constituents with their issues along the way. Indeed, it’s been helping people that’s given me the greatest pleasure in these jobs.”