Andy Burnham, widely known as the “King of the North,” has been open about his aspirations to lead the Labour Party in the future. He has previously contested for the leadership in 2010 and 2015, and in a recent statement, he ambiguously mentioned uncertainty about what lies ahead.
Rumors have been circulating since last summer suggesting that the Mayor of Greater Manchester is considering a return to Westminster. Prior to the Labour conference, Burnham hinted at receiving encouragement from some MPs to challenge the Prime Minister, causing a stir and drawing ire from Downing Street.
Despite the buzz surrounding Burnham’s potential candidacy, a major obstacle has always been his lack of a parliamentary seat. Last September, suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne expressed frustration at the ongoing speculation about a supposed agreement for him to vacate his Gorton and Denton seat for Burnham.
Gwynne, who secured a significant 50.8% vote share in the 2024 election, firmly dismissed the idea of stepping down to pave the way for Burnham. However, in a surprising turn of events, Gwynne, facing suspension over offensive messages, announced his resignation from Parliament, setting the stage for a by-election and prompting Burnham to consider his next move.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of Labour will be responsible for selecting a candidate for the Greater Manchester by-election. The presence of staunch supporters of Keir Starmer on the NEC raises doubts about Burnham’s candidacy. If he overcomes this hurdle, the challenge of winning the by-election amidst Labour’s dwindling popularity in national polls awaits.
Other parties, including Reform UK and potentially the Green Party led by Zack Polanski, are gearing up to contest the by-election fiercely. The charismatic Burnham may embrace the challenge, but the decision to take the plunge rests with him.