Guido hears that John Healey is contemplating a bid to become the Labour candidate for Mayor of Sheffield. Healey has taken an active interest in the Sheffield job in the Commons and as a South Yorkshire MP, tight with unions, he would have a very good shot at it.

Unlike Liam Byrne, Healey does not even have the prospect of a decade in the Shadow Cabinet having lost his job at health to Andy Burnham. He has remained a vocal backbencher since then and executive control over a city the size of Sheffield would be a promotion. His colleagues say he’s pondering and Guido has been trying to get hold of John this morning. His constituency office staffer expressed personal doubt at the rumour, but promised an answer by the close of play…

UPDATE: A spokesman for John Healey was quick off the mark:

“John is committed to remaining an MP for Rotherham and the last thing he wants is to become an elected mayor.”

Not dissimilar to what Liam Byrne was saying a few months ago about Birmingham…