Candidate choice in Burnham's potential seat will be normal process

ANDY Burnham's potential return to Parliament will be handled like any other selection process, a minister said amid speculation Sir Keir Starmer's allies will seek to scupper the Greater Manchester mayor's Westminster ambitions.

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Mr Burnham, long viewed as a potential rival to the Prime Minister for the Labour leadership, faces a decision on whether to attempt to return to Westminster after a Greater Manchester MP announced he would quit the Commons.

Andrew Gwynne said on Thursday he would stand down as MP for Gorton and Denton, citing “significant ill health” and advice from his doctor not to return to work.

His decision means a by-election in the constituency, which Labour won comfortably in 2024.