Norfolk MP plays down reports he is preparing to stand down
The report comes as the fate of Sir Keir Starmer hangs in the balance
Last updated 11th May 2026
A Norfolk MP has played down reports he is preparing to stand down to give Andy Burnham a chance to return to Westminster, paving the way for the Greater Manchester mayor to become PM.
Clive Lewis has described claims that he had spoken to Mr Burnham over the weekend about the plan as “total hallucinatory Jackanory”.
The report – and Mr Lewis’ response – come at a time of frenzied speculation in Labour over the fate of Sir Keir Starmer, following the party’s dreadful showing in last week’s elections.
The Norwich South MP, a long-standing critic of the prime minister, previously said in November that he would be prepared to resign to allow Mr Burnham to return to the Commons.
However, he clarified that he was speaking hypothetically and had no plans to actually do so.
But the speculation about him and Mr Burnham were reignited on Sunday night when Charlie Simpson, from GBPolitics – a political website – reported that Mr Lewis was prepared to resign his seat to allow for Mr Burnham’s return, but it remained unclear that Mr Burnham was prepared to stand in Norwich.
Mr Lewis declined to comment when approached by this newspaper, but later tweeted to play down the claims.
He wrote: “Mate this a total hallucinatory Jackanory.
“Where did you get this guff from – a ouija board?!”
If Mr Lewis were to resign, Mr Burnham would face a number of significant hurdles before any talk of a path to Number 10 could begin.
Many would question whether Mr Burnham would be able to beat out the Greens in a by-election.
The party is surging in national popularity and took control of Norwich City Council for the first time after last week’s Norwich elections.
It would not be Mr Burnham’s first attempt at returning to Westminster, either.
Earlier this year was blocked by Labour from standing for the party in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Although Mr Lewis has tried to distance himself from reports that he could give Mr Burnham a route back to Westminster, he has been vocal in recent days about the Manchester mayor’s prospects of a return and what it would mean for British politics.
In a lengthy post on social media, he wrote: “Burnham’s possible return matters not because of what it says about Labour’s leadership, but because of what it reveals about the British state.
“That framing misses the larger point. Burnham’s possible return matters not because of what it says about Labour’s leadership, but because of what it reveals about the British state: what it can still do, what it has forgotten how to do, and what kind of country it must become if it is serious about resilience.”
He added: “The question is not whether Burnham can return to parliament. It is whether Britain can return to the idea that the state should make life work. Because a country that cannot command the confidence of its people cannot truly defend itself.”
Mr Lewis has declined to comment.