Gwynne blocks Burnham bid to return to Westminster, stalling leadership contest hopes

London — Andrew Gwynne, the Labour MP for Gorton & Denton, has blocked a potential move to bring Andy Burnham back to Westminster by declaring he will not step aside to trigger a by-election. Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, has been viewed as a possible challenger to Labour leader Keir Starmer in a future leadership contest, a scenario that would require a seat in Parliament. Gwynne, who confirmed he plans to serve a full term, told The Times that Burnham’s route to No. 10 “is not going to be through Gorton & Denton.”

Gwynne’s stance comes after controversy surrounding his departure from Labour this year. In February he was suspended after the Mail on Sunday published offensive messages in a group chat called Trigger Me Timbers, including remarks about a pensioner who did not vote Labour and antisemitic jibes. He apologized, saying the comments were badly misjudged and that he accepted the PM and party’s actions. There had been speculation that he might be medically retiring from the Commons, which would have triggered a by-election that Burnham could potentially contest. He now says he intends to serve the remainder of his term.

Beyond Gwynne, the leadership debate continues to roil Labour politics. Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Burnham should remain focused on local North West politics rather than rushing back to Parliament to mount a leadership bid. Kyle, who spoke on Sky News, called Burnham a real talent and said Manchester needs him, calling it a shame to lose him to Parliament if he returns only to challenge Starmer. The talk of a by-election also drew reactions from reform voices, with Nigel Farage speculating about Burnham's chances if a contest enclosed a parliamentary seat.

Burnham has not closed the door on a Westminster return in the future. In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, he said he had never ruled out going back to Westminster, while stressing that his focus remains on Manchester and the work of delivering for residents in the city. Several party figures have warned that a Burnham bid could have consequences for Starmer’s leadership if it gains traction, while allies of the Manchester mayor argue his national appeal could help Labour reconnect with voters who have drifted away from the party.

Polls have repeatedly put Burnham ahead of Starmer in certain contexts. A More in Common survey published in August found 32% of respondents would prefer Burnham as prime minister over Starmer (22%), with 46% undecided. Ipsos data from July showed 35% believed Burnham would be a good Labour leader, while 26% said the same of Starmer. Among Labour voters, Starmer remained more popular, but Burnham's appeal appeared broader in parts of the party’s heartland. Neal Lawson of Compass and other party insiders have argued that Burnham’s profile could be a potent force for Labour’s national resurgence. The question remains whether Burnham will pursue a parliamentary return, and how that path would affect Starmer’s leadership and Labour’s broader strategy.