Andy Burnham, the long-serving Mayor of Greater Manchester, has been at the centre of national politics for more than a decade, known for championing northern communities and pushing through initiatives like the Bee Network.
A former cabinet minister and twice Labour leadership contender, he recently saw his bid to return to Parliament in the Gorton and Denton by-election blocked by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), in a move that has sparked internal debate.
