Rumours are flying around Tameside Labour circles that Andy Burnham’s plan to return to Westminster may come sooner than expected. Sources on the ground say Andrew Gwynne, Labour MP for Gorton and Denton, wants to leave Parliament as soon as he has another job lined up. Triggering a by-election…

Gwynne led Burnham’s mayoral campaign in 2016, and the pair remain close. They are said to have had a meeting recently about what comes next, should Gwynne step down. If Burnham stands, he would have to resign as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, given the mayoralty holds police and crime responsibilities. So there would be a by-election for the mayoralty too…

All this would create quite the headache for Labour. There are concerns Reform could win in Gorton and Denton unless Burnham stands,

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