Following our Deputy Leadership election polling (which came within 2% of the final result), Find Out Now surveyed 501 Labour members between the 22nd and 23rd January 2026, asking their views about Andy Burnham

The Manchester MP Andrew Gwynne is expected to step down from parliament. There is speculation that Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham wishes to run in the resulting by-election.

Labour’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) recently changed its rules to require directly elected mayors such as Burnham to seek “express permission” to become a candidate. It is suggested that the NEC is likely to block Burnham’s candidacy.

Do you think the NEC should allow Andy Burnham to run as a candidate?

• Yes: 66%
• No: 15%
• Don’t know: 18%

If there were a Labour leadership election, with Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham as candidates, who would you vote for?

• Andy Burnham: 48%
• Keir Starmer: 26%
• Don’t know: 26%

No filtering or weighting was applied to the final sample. Full results can be found here and here 

This poll was initiated solely by Find Out Now and not funded by any third party

Find Out Now is an MRS company partner, a member of the British Polling Council and abides by their rules. To find out more about our research offer, please visit our services page or contact ask@findoutnow.co.uk