London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed support for Andy Burnham’s potential candidacy as a Member of Parliament, stating that Burnham should pursue the opportunity if he chooses. This comes as the deadline for Burnham’s decision approaches at 5 p.m. today.
During remarks made at the Fabian Society’s annual conference in London on Saturday, Khan indicated his readiness to actively campaign for Burnham, who currently serves as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
The opportunity for Burnham to run arises following the resignation of Andrew Glynne, MP for Gorton and Denton, presenting a possible by-election for the party.
Burnham, often considered a rival to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, faces a decision deadline today at 5 p.m. regarding his potential candidacy.
Speculation continues about Burnham’s leadership ambitions within the party, though he has yet to publicly declare his intentions.
Should Burnham decide to pursue the seat, he will need to seek approval from Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) to move forward with his candidacy.
The Mayor of London told the Fabian Society conference in London on Saturday: ‘I think if Andy Burnham wants to be a member of Parliament, Andy Burnham should be allowed to be a member of Parliament.
‘I’m a firm believer in the best team having all the talent playing for them, and if Andy wants to return to Parliament, I will try and make some time between now and the by-election to knock on some doors for him, or whoever the candidate is.’
Angela Rayner pictured canvassing in Birmingham with Labour mayor Andy Burnham in May last year
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would even be willing to campaign for the Mayor of Greater Manchester in comments at the Fabian Society’s annual conference in London on Saturday
It came after Labour’s Deputy Leader, Lucy Powell, said the question of whether Mr Burnham runs for Parliament ‘should be up to Andy and the local members’.
Ms Powell did not explicitly call for Mr Burnham to contest the upcoming Gorton and Denton by-election, saying he would have to make up his own mind.
Reports have suggested that supporters of the Prime Minister on the NEC may seek to block his candidacy, either out of fear it would destabilise the Government or to prevent another by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty.
Meanwhile, several figures within the party have called for Mr Burnham to be allowed to stand, with Angela Rayner expected to join them later on Saturday.
In London, Ms Powell said she wanted to see ‘the very best candidate’ selected, and described Mr Burnham as ‘incredibly popular’.
Asked whether that meant Labour’s national executive committee should allow Mr Burnham to stand, she said: ‘He has got to make up his own mind what he wants to do and he has got until five o’clock today.
‘Andy Burnham is incredibly popular in my part of the world.
‘He is an incredibly popular politician because he is really changing our city for the better.’
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Lucy Powell speaking at the Fabian Society 2026 New Year Conference at the Guildhall
She added: ‘I think we should all come together and really celebrate where Labour is doing some great work.
‘So, it should be up to Andy and the local members who will select their candidate, and our members are very discerning.’
Andrew Gwynne, the former MP for Gorton and Denton, formally quit the job on Friday due to health concerns, paving the way for a by-election to take place.
Applicants to replace him must put their name forward before midnight on Sunday.
Mr Burnham faces numerous hurdles to fight the seat, including having to stand down from his current role, being approved by the NEC and seeing off Reform UK.
While Labour won the Gorton and Denton seat with 51 per cent in 2024, it is now a three-way marginal.
Reform has vowed to ‘throw everything’ at the seat, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski is said to be eyeing it, introducing another curveball that could split the Left-wing vote.
On Friday, health minister Stephen Kinnock said Mr Burnham was doing a good job as mayor, with the thinly-veiled suggestion that he should stay in that post.
And deputy PM David Lammy also warned that the party did not want another leader because it would result in an election.
Mr Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017, was the MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017, and has stood for the Labour leadership on two occasions.
