Turmoil within the Labour Party is reaching a fever pitch as Norwich South MP Clive Lewis has dramatically thrust himself into the center of a growing leadership struggle. On November 19, 2025, Lewis became the first Labour MP to publicly declare that Keir Starmer should step down as party leader, and he took his dissent a step further by announcing his willingness to resign his parliamentary seat so that Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, could return to Westminster and challenge Starmer for the top job.
Lewis’s bold move, aired during a heated segment on BBC’s Politics Live following Prime Minister’s Questions, has sent ripples through Westminster and reignited speculation about the future of Labour’s leadership. When pressed about whether he would vacate his Norwich South seat to provide Burnham—a popular figure among the party’s soft-left and the wider public—a pathway back into Parliament, Lewis didn’t mince words. “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?” he told the BBC, echoing sentiments of frustration and urgency that have been bubbling within Labour’s ranks.
Lewis doubled down when asked again if he would step aside for Burnham, replying, “I would, yeah.” His remarks were not just a personal declaration—they marked a new phase in the open dissent against Starmer, who has faced mounting criticism from both within his party and among the wider electorate. According to The Sun on Sunday, however, Lewis later clarified that he has "no plans to stand down," emphasizing that his comments were in response to a hypothetical scenario. “A hypothetical question was put to me, and my answer was consistent with what I’ve been saying, that I am serious about putting country before party,” Lewis told the paper, highlighting the nuanced and, some might say, precarious position he now occupies.
The man at the center of the potential succession, Andy Burnham, is no stranger to Labour’s internal politics. Burnham, a soft-left former MP, finished second to Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour leadership contest before taking up the mantle of Greater Manchester’s mayor in 2017. His tenure as mayor has been marked by outspoken advocacy for the North and a willingness to challenge the party’s London-centric leadership. Burnham has become a thorn in Starmer’s side, frequently leveling criticism at what he describes as the party’s lack of clarity and conviction under Starmer’s stewardship.
Burnham’s popularity, both within Labour’s parliamentary ranks and among the general public, has only fueled speculation that he could mount a serious challenge if given the opportunity. Earlier this year, rumors swirled that Burnham was weighing up a leadership bid, and he himself acknowledged that Labour MPs were privately urging him to take on Starmer. The Times reported this week that the party’s soft-left faction is actively rallying in anticipation of a leadership contest and, crucially, believes it has the numbers to back a candidate—presumably Burnham—should the moment arise.
Amid this backdrop, Starmer’s grip on the party appears increasingly tenuous. Last week, Number 10 sources briefed against health secretary Wes Streeting, a move widely interpreted as a signal that Starmer is preparing to fend off any leadership challenge from within his own cabinet. Allies of the prime minister insist he is ready to fight for his position, but the mood inside Labour is one of growing restiveness. Lewis’s public break ranks is only the latest—and perhaps the most dramatic—manifestation of this internal unease.
For many in Labour, the question is not just about personalities but about the party’s direction and its ability to connect with voters. Starmer, who swept to the leadership promising unity and a return to electability after the divisive Corbyn years, has seen his approval ratings slide to record lows. Critics accuse him of lacking vision and failing to articulate a compelling alternative to the current Conservative government. Burnham, by contrast, has cultivated an image as a principled and pragmatic leader, unafraid to speak his mind and willing to put regional issues front and center—qualities that have endeared him to many of Labour’s grassroots members.
The prospect of Lewis resigning to trigger a by-election—effectively handing Burnham a route back into Westminster—has electrified the party’s left and soft-left factions. Such a move would not only be unprecedented in recent Labour history but would also represent a direct challenge to Starmer’s authority. Yet, as Lewis’s subsequent clarification makes clear, the situation remains fluid. The MP’s willingness to contemplate such a sacrifice underscores the depth of discontent within Labour, but it also reveals the complexities of party loyalty, personal ambition, and the competing imperatives of public service.
Burnham himself has so far remained coy about his intentions. While he has not ruled out a leadership challenge, he has consistently emphasized his commitment to Manchester and his ongoing mayoral responsibilities. Still, the drumbeat for change within Labour grows louder by the day, with many MPs and activists convinced that only a dramatic intervention—such as Burnham’s return—can restore the party’s fortunes and reconnect it with disaffected voters.
Starmer’s supporters, meanwhile, argue that the party must hold its nerve and avoid the kind of infighting that has so often plagued Labour in the past. They point to the dangers of division and warn that a leadership contest could play into the hands of the Conservatives, who are themselves facing challenges but remain formidable opponents. Yet for those who share Lewis’s sense of urgency, the risk of inaction is even greater. As one observer put it, “If Labour doesn’t change course soon, it risks squandering the opportunity to offer a real alternative at the next general election.”
For now, all eyes are on Norwich South and Greater Manchester. Will Clive Lewis make good on his willingness to resign, setting in motion a by-election that could change the face of British politics? Will Andy Burnham seize the moment and offer himself as the standard-bearer for Labour’s restless base? Or will Starmer manage to weather the storm and reassert his authority over a party in flux?
One thing is certain: the coming weeks promise to be some of the most consequential in recent Labour history. The choices made now—by Lewis, by Burnham, and by Starmer—will shape not only the party’s future but the direction of British politics for years to come.
