Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Gorton and Denton is standing down because of ill health. Thus provoking a great deal of speculation as to who will stand in his place.

If AB decides to throw his name into the hat to become an MP then he will have to first stand down from being the elected Mayor - so I suppose it's a case of watch this space 😂

I hope he doesn’t stand. I’ve got reservations following his ill judged self promotion last year. He’s a good mayor, but I don’t think he would be right for PM.

Mere speculation- he already said he wouldn't. People like to get wound up though...

Gransnet thrives on speculation keepingquiet!

Anyone memories going back to 60s/70s?

Harold Wilson won an election, but one of his key wing men, pencilled in as the Foreign Secretary, was defeated. So another MP was translated to the House of Lords and this chaap, Patrick Something-Something, its on the tip of my tongue, stood for Labour in the By-election - and lost again.

The voters were p*ssed off at having their elected MP, who during the election campaign had no doubt claimed to them that they were the only people for him prepared so quickly to desert them if a better thing (a life peerage) hove into view, just so they could have a candidate foisted on them, that no one knew and who had already been rejected by one set of voters.

I assume Andy Burnham has been warned of what happened last time, he will be too young to remember it, and is playing his cards very close to his chest.

I don't think Amdy Burnham is the answer to be honest.

Casdon

Gransnet thrives on speculation keepingquiet!

No wonder I sometimes wonder what I'm doing here...!

I’m a lifelong Labour voter but if Burnham becomes an MP and challenges Starmer for the leadership and wins I shall no longer support the party. He failed to become leader before ( twice?) and imo if he tries to become leader again it is purely through self interest. And is a slap in the face to the people of Manchester who elected him as their mayor.

The one standing down is an independent I believe.
He had the labour whip removed for offensive posts on social media.

welbeck

The one standing down is an independent I believe.
He had the labour whip removed for offensive posts on social media.

My mistake. Apologies..

I think Andy Burnham seems like a brilliant mayor. PM is a whole different kettle of fish.

As a party member I await events with great interest.

I'm part of the Labour Party Mainstream movement, which is left of Starmer and supported by Lucy Powell the deputy leader whom we elected in last year over the Starmer favourite Bridget Phillipson.

This is a description of Mainstream.
www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/07/labour-insiders-form-new-centre-left-network-in-bid-to-change-partys-direction#:~:text=Mainstream's%20supporters%20believe%20the%20Labour,a%20possible%20successor%20to%20Starmer.

No, I dont think Burnham is right for PM at least not at the moment, but a good bit of stirring up and possible new leaders will do a lot of good.

Personally I like and have always like Yvette Cooper as leader but maybe that ship sailed too long ago.

the point is, although there are many complaints on the domestic front (some very unfair, for what Labour has achieved in numbers small ways is far from insubstantial)

I am clear that Starmer has been a good leader on the international state.

kittylester

I think Andy Burnham seems like a brilliant mayor. PM is a whole different kettle of fish.

Starmer was a Human Rights barrister and a good Director of Public Prosecutions. Look where that has got us…

Nobody who has become a PM has ever had the experience and obvious skill set. We take a chance on them being effective at the job every single time.

Following bitter experience with Starmer I would say if a behaviour or a character flaw cause you concern don't ignore it for the 'greater good' .

welbeck

The one standing down is an independent I believe.
He had the labour whip removed for offensive posts on social media.

That doesn't change his political beliefs and commitment just because he has in another part of his life behaved in an unacceptable way.

He is to all paractical purposes someone who espouses Labour principles and policies. Voters are not that stupid.

Andy Burnham - Average Minster and MP who lost his attempt to run the party.
He should stick to the day job.
Most normal voters in the south are highly unlikely they would vote for him.

I would like to see AB as PM, but I'm far from convinced that this would be a good way to achieve that. We saw enough back-stabbing with the Tories, and I think we need a return to stability and getting on with running the country. IMO Starmer's government has done a lot of good things, and I really wish he could be left to do more without constantly having to fend off sniping. It's bad enough coming from the media, and he doesn't need it from his own side.

Well, a change of PM may be no bad thing.

Having a PM who could stay in the UK for five minutes would be nice. Mr Starmer is junketing off to Beijing.

How many jollies has he had since taking over Number 10?

How many jollies has he had since taking over Number 10?

37

mae13

Well, a change of PM may be no bad thing.

Having a PM who could stay in the UK for five minutes would be nice. Mr Starmer is junketing off to Beijing.

How many jollies has he had since taking over Number 10?

So Prime Minister responsibilities have been redefined ‘jollies’?

I don’t know how someone could represent the UK on the world stage by staying in the country all the time. The geopolitical situation just now is such that we need to be fully represented - particularly as we are no longer in the EU. If the point of Brexit was self-determination then we need to act unilaterally, which is a huge responsibility for the PM - not a ‘jolly’. Starmer is not Farage, fortunately. He turns up to represent the UK, and does so well. The constant sniping at every single thing he does is so wearing.

Starmer should be the foreign minister. He would be very good at that ( seriously, not tongue in cheek). What a pity he is the PM. He is seriously bad at that.

Nothing about this particular Labour Party surprises me.

Unusually it has lost its moral code.

M0nica

Anyone memories going back to 60s/70s?

Harold Wilson won an election, but one of his key wing men, pencilled in as the Foreign Secretary, was defeated. So another MP was translated to the House of Lords and this chaap, Patrick Something-Something, its on the tip of my tongue, stood for Labour in the By-election - and lost again.

The voters were p*ssed off at having their elected MP, who during the election campaign had no doubt claimed to them that they were the only people for him prepared so quickly to desert them if a better thing (a life peerage) hove into view, just so they could have a candidate foisted on them, that no one knew and who had already been rejected by one set of voters.

I assume Andy Burnham has been warned of what happened last time, he will be too young to remember it, and is playing his cards very close to his chest.

Patrick Gordon Walker?