Suspended Labour MP ‘set to give up’ as Andy Burnham hypothesis ramps up
According to The Times, suspended Labour MP Andrew Gwynne is on the brink of quitting as an MP – which will inevitably spark speculation about Andy Burnham returning
The move will fuel speculation that Andy Burnham is heading back to Westminster(Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A suspended Labour MP is reportedly poised to step down – potentially paving the way for Andy Burnham to return to Parliament.
Speculation has been rife that Andrew Gwynne would quit Parliament and force a by-election, but up to this point he has denied it. The MP for Gorton & Denton in the North West had the Labour whip removed due to offensive WhatsApp messages.
If The Times report is correct, it will set tongues wagging that Greater Manchester mayor could put his name forward. Mr Burnham has been linked with a leadership challenge against Keir Starmer for months.
READ MORE: Reform ‘hypocrite’ blasted as letter to Joe Biden about Chagos Islands emergesREAD MORE: UK to snub Donald Trump’s ‘board of peace’ after Vladimir Putin reason
Asked about the speculation on BBC radio, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Andrew Gwynne was a member of my team in opposition and in government. I’m aware he’s had some very serious health challenges.
“And you know, for all of the other challenges he’s gone through and some of the difficulties he’s had, I wish him and his family well, and I hope he’s okay. His health has been a real challenge.
“If indeed there is going to be a by-election, we need to make sure we’ve got a strong candidate, that we fight really hard to win that by-election, and we need our best candidates to come forward.
“As to who that is, whether or not Andy will throw his hat into the ring, is for Andy to consider, and ultimately for party members to decide. But we need strong candidates.
“I’ll just say about Andy, having just seen him just earlier this week, whether it’s in government nationally, or whether it’s leading the city and the region locally, he makes a massive impact and makes a really big difference. He’s someone I’m proud to work with.”
The Prime Minister sacked Mr Gwynne as a health minister in February after messages in a WhatsApp group came to light. In one, Mr Gwynne allegedly joked that he hoped an elderly woman would die, after she asked about her bins.
Other messages appeared to show him saying someone’s name sounded “too Jewish” and “too militaristic”, before asking whether he was in Mossad, the Israeli secret service. Further texts included racist comments about veteran MP Dianne Abbott and sexist comments about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner performing a sex act, it is claimed.
In another message, he allegedly responded to “anti-Semitic banter” in the group with a mocking tone, saying “Geoffrey the Giraffe says don’t be nasty to the Jews.”
The Mirror has contacted Mr Gwynne for comment.
