Norfolk MP suggests he’d give up seat for Andy Burnham to return to Parliament
Burnham has been tipped as a potential challenger to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Labour MP Clive Lewis has indicated he would be willing to vacate his Norwich South parliamentary seat to allow Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to return to Westminster.
Burnham, who served as a New Labour minister and was previously MP for Leigh, has been tipped as a potential challenger to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. However, any leadership bid would require Burnham to return to the House of Commons.
Speaking on the BBC’s Politics Live programme on Wednesday, Lewis said that if asked, he would step aside for Burnham.
"It's a question I've asked myself, and I'd have to obviously consult with my wife as well and family, but do you know what? If I'm going to sit here and say country before party, party before personal ambition, then yes, I have to say yes, don't I?" Lewis said.
Burnham has hinted at a return to Westminster since before Labour's September conference. Last week, Lewis openly called for Burnham to come back to Parliament, suggesting he could take over as Labour leader and accusing Sir Keir Starmer of being in a “not tenable” position.
The comments follow a challenging period for Starmer, including a Labour briefing war about internal manoeuvring, confusion over tax policy in the upcoming budget, and continued low poll ratings.
Downing Street declined to comment.