Suspended Labour MP Gwynne to Resign Seat

A suspended Labour MP is poised to resign his Greater Manchester seat, potentially paving the way for a by-election that could see Mayor Andy Burnham return to Parliament amid speculation of a leadership challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Andrew Gwynne, 51, who served as a health minister until his dismissal last year, is expected to step down from his Gorton and Denton constituency following negotiations with parliamentary authorities over his taxpayer-funded pension. The agreement would allow early medical retirement due to his reported ill health. Gwynne lost the Labour whip in February 2024 after offensive messages surfaced in a private WhatsApp group called "Trigger Me Timbers," which included sexist, racist, and anti-Semitic content. He was suspended from the party and faced an investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog. In a February 2024 statement, Gwynne expressed regret, saying he had made "badly misjudged comments" and apologized for any offense caused.

The development emerged on Thursday, prompting immediate concerns within Labour circles about Burnham's possible candidacy. The 56-year-old mayor, who represented Leigh in Greater Manchester as an MP...