Andrew Gwynne signs Commons deal that could pave way back for Andy Burnham

"Andy Burnham may have a new route to parliament after the MP Andrew Gwynne reached a settlement with the Commons that would allow him to retire and call a byelection. The mayor of Greater Manchester is said to be seeking a return to parliament to stand for the Labour leadership if there is a challenge to Keir Starmer, but was thought to have limited options for a byelection in the north-west."

"He was reported to have been seeking the settlement with the Commons pensions authorities but to have withdrawn the request in the autumn. Shortly afterwards, he said he planned to serve the full parliament. Andy Burnham, the man who would be king But a senior source confirmed the MP, who is currently suspended from the Labour party, had now reached an agreement on his MP's pension that would allow him to retire on medical grounds."

"Gwynne is still subject to a parliamentary standards investigation, which was initiated last year after he was found to have been in a WhatsApp group that shared vulgar and inflammatory comments about voters and other MPs. He was suspended from the party after the messages came to light. He was said by some MPs to have reached an agreement with Burnham to allow him to run in his seat after his early retirement, but Gwynne denied there had been any pact."

Andy Burnham is said to be seeking a return to parliament to stand for the Labour leadership if there is a challenge to Keir Starmer. MP Andrew Gwynne has reached a Commons pension settlement that would allow him to retire and trigger a by-election, though he has denied planning early retirement. Gwynne remains suspended from the Labour party and is subject to a parliamentary standards investigation over participation in a WhatsApp group that shared vulgar and inflammatory comments. Claims of a pact between Gwynne and Burnham were denied. A Labour NEC panel would decide any nomination and could block Burnham or impose an all-female shortlist, and a mayoral by-election would be costly.

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