ANDREW Gwynne is stepping down as MP for Denton – seemingly clearing the way for Andy Burnham’s return to Parliament.
The politician remains suspended by the Labour Party for his role in the infamous Trigger Me Timbers WhatsApp group.
But before the final outcome of an investigation has been made known, he has decided to stand down for medical reasons.
As a result, Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham is expected to attempt to stand in the Gorton and Denton constituency.
Should he win a by-election, set to take place on Thursday, May 7 – the same day as the local elections, that will make him eligible to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership – and the job of Prime Minister.
Former public health minister Mr Gwynne has been sitting as an Independent MP following the emergence of the Trigger Me Timbers group, for which he has been under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Among the messages – believed to have been posted between 2019 and 2022 – Mr Gwynne ‘joked’ about a constituent being “mown down” by a bin lorry and said he hoped a 72-year-old woman would soon die after she asked a councillor about bin collections.
The fallout of the scandal brought protests to the doorstep of his constituency office in Denton.
The 51-year-old – an MP of 21 years, firstly in the Denton and Reddish constituency – also reportedly posted sexist comments about Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and racist remarks about veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott.
Both Ashton-under-Lyne MP Ms Rayner and Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds – expressed their ‘disgust’ over the WhatsApp controversy which has caused national anger.
Mr Gwynne was axed by Sir Keir on February 9, while Oliver Ryan MP, a councillor for Audenshaw at the time, was also suspended for comments, ‘which I deeply regret and would not make today.’
Several Tameside councillors, including Mr Gwynne’ wife Allison, were also sidelined pending an investigation.
Denton South’s George Newton and Jack Naylor were expelled, with ward colleague Claire Reid handed a six-month suspension, which she had already served when it was announced.
Allison Gwynne was given a similar punishment, along with Denton West’s George Jones and Brenda Warrington.
Cllr Vincent Ricci was handed a formal warning for breaching Labour Party protocol.
Cllr Denise Ward was completely cleared but former leader of Tameside Council, Cllr Ged Cooney, is still waiting to hear what will happen after he was suspended – for reasons other than the Trigger Me Timbers group.
Audenshaw’s Cllr Charlotte Martin resigned her Labour Party membership after her suspension.
Mr Gwynne previously said he ‘won’t be announcing any such thing in March,’ over his future.
But this announcement speeds up the process – and, possibly, Mr Burnham’s route back to Westminster.