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Andrew Gwynne, the former Labour minister, has revealed his decision to resign as the Member of Parliament for Gorton and Denton. Citing “significant ill health” and medical advice from his GP that it would be unsafe to continue in his parliamentary role, Gwynne’s departure concludes his tenure amid ongoing health challenges. His stepping down is expected to trigger a by-election in the Greater Manchester constituency he represents.
The resignation comes in the wake of controversies including Gwynne’s suspension from the Labour Party in 2025 related to inappropriate WhatsApp messages. According to reports, Gwynne recently reached an arrangement concerning his pension, allowing him to retire on medical grounds. In his statement, he highlighted that his health issues were “greatly exacerbated by the impact of last year’s events regarding leaked text messages.” Echoing his GP’s assessment, he noted concerns over his vulnerability and the risk of rapid deterioration if exposed to further stress, concluding that a safe return to his parliamentary duties was unlikely.
This political development opens the door for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to consider standing in the by-election. Burnham has not dismissed the possibility of running or mounting a leadership challenge against Sir Keir Starmer but emphasized that he remains “very focused on my role as mayor” and urged the public not to “rush to conclusions.” Any move by Burnham to contest the seat would require approval from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which is generally viewed as supportive of the current party leader. Sources indicate there may be internal resistance to Burnham’s potential candidacy, both due to the trigger of a mayoral election and possible demands for an all-women shortlist for the parliamentary vacancy.
Within Labour, opinions diverge on whether restrictions placed by the NEC could be overturned by Burnham’s supporters. The political stakes are high, given that the party’s ability to retain the Gorton and Denton seat in the by-election is uncertain amid lower voter support nationally. At the last general election in 2024, Gwynne secured the seat with a strong majority of 18,000 votes, with Reform UK and the Green Party trailing behind. Other political parties are already positioning themselves for the upcoming contest, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrat spokesperson Lisa Smart, and Greens all expressing readiness to challenge Labour for the seat
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