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Clive Lewis has become the first Labour MP to break ranks and call for Keir Starmer to be replaced as party leader and prime minister – by Andy Burnham.
The right-wing newspapers have been having a lot of fun with this while other outlets (notably the BBC) have been silent, but it seems to be accurate. Here’s the Daily Express:
“The MP for Norwich South has previously called for Starmer to stand down, but has now gone further, endorsing Burnham.
“Speaking to Channel 4, Lewis said: “We need to do what the Prime Minister once said, which is put country before party. And frankly, party before personal ambition. I just don’t see how this can stagger on without any kind of resolution on the horizon.
““And I think the Labour Party, the Labour grandees, the men in grey suits now really, seriously think, how can we get Andy Burnham back in to this parliamentary Labour Party and let him step up and become the next Prime Minister? That’s my personal view. I know it won’t be shared by everyone, but I don’t see many other options.”
“As reported by the Daily Mail, Mr Burnham has not yet commented on the remarks which come less than two weeks before Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms her Autumn Budget.”
I’m a supporter of Clive Lewis because he has supported me with donation money in the past; he strikes me as one of the few traditional Labour politicians left in the Labour Party.
His intervention is making waves because he has not simply said Starmer should resign (he has said that before, on several occasions).
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This time he has endorsed a specific successor – Andy Burnham, who is not even in the parliamentary Labour Party; said publicly that the situation cannot continue and Labour grandees should find a way to bring Burnham back into Westminster to become prime minister; and openly contradicted the leadership line that “Labour is united”.
That is a major escalation. In Westminster terms, it is more like a shot across the bow of the entire leadership structure than a casual comment.
It is hugely risky for him because the current Labour hierarchy behaves more like a Cult of Keir than a conventional political leadership team.
It is intensely centralised, intolerant of dissent, and quick to punish MPs who undermine the party line. The examples are clear:
- MPs have been suspended for far less direct criticism.
- Dissent is handled through anonymous briefings designed to isolate the dissenter.
- Loyalty to Starmer has been prioritised above political competence.
Under that system, Clive Lewis has put a target on his own back.
Possible consequences for him include:
- Isolation within the parliamentary party,
- Loss of any remaining committee influence,
- Quiet but deliberate moves to deselect him (the party machine has done this to many MPs already), and
- Being blamed for “adding to instability” if Labour’s current polling crisis worsens.
Lewis will know this — which suggests he calculated that the cost of staying quiet now is worse than the cost of speaking out.
So the question is: why did he decide now was the moment?
I can think of three key factors:
1. Labour’s collapse in the polls
If Labour really is hovering around fourth place in some polls, as the Express’s list of linked stories repeatedly insists, then MPs who want to survive may feel they have nothing to lose.
2. The Downing Street briefing war
The leadership is already wounded.
Anonymous briefings against cabinet members, denials from Number 10, accusations of disloyalty from Wes Streeting all make this a structurally weak moment.
3. Burnham’s name keeps surfacing anyway
For weeks, the press — particularly the tabloids — have been treating Burnham as a shadow challenger whether he wants that or not.
Lewis may simply have said out loud what others are thinking privately.
Was it a wise move?
From a career perspective: risky. Extremely risky.
But Lewis has never been one of the careerists. He has always been willing to take principled but costly positions: anti-war, anti-austerity, pro-democracy inside Labour.
If Starmer falls, Lewis will look like a truth-teller who moved early.
If Starmer doesn’t fall, Lewis may find:
- His position in the party is weakened
- He is vulnerable to internal discipline
- Constituency pressure increases as Labour HQ intervenes
but he may also calculate that Starmer cannot survive a polling rout, a budget crisis, and an internal briefing war all at once — and that this is simply getting ahead of the inevitable.
So, what happens next?
The most likely short-term consequences are as follows:
Firstly, the leadership will not respond openly to Lewis. Doing so would acknowledge the challenge.
Anonymous briefings against him will start almost immediately. Expect “senior Labour sources” to question his judgement, loyalty, or electoral relevance.
Other MPs will watch the reaction very closely. If the leadership looks weak or defensive, more may break ranks.
Burnham will stay silent. This is because silence is his only safe option for now. If he comments, it becomes a leadership bid. Silence keeps him in play without commitment.
The press will now frame this as an active leadership crisis. It already was — but now they have an on-the-record quote from a sitting MP endorsing a successor. That is dynamite in Westminster terms.
What can we conclude?
It is increasingly clear that Starmer’s leadership is being held together by fear and discipline rather than enthusiasm or loyalty.
When MPs start openly backing alternative prime ministers, it tells you Starmer’s grip is weakening.
Whether Lewis acted wisely depends on whether the dam bursts or holds.
Right now, it is starting to crack.
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Rift in Labour as Lewis calls for Burnham to replace Starmer
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Clive Lewis has become the first Labour MP to break ranks and call for Keir Starmer to be replaced as party leader and prime minister – by Andy Burnham.
The right-wing newspapers have been having a lot of fun with this while other outlets (notably the BBC) have been silent, but it seems to be accurate. Here’s the Daily Express:
“The MP for Norwich South has previously called for Starmer to stand down, but has now gone further, endorsing Burnham.
“Speaking to Channel 4, Lewis said: “We need to do what the Prime Minister once said, which is put country before party. And frankly, party before personal ambition. I just don’t see how this can stagger on without any kind of resolution on the horizon.
““And I think the Labour Party, the Labour grandees, the men in grey suits now really, seriously think, how can we get Andy Burnham back in to this parliamentary Labour Party and let him step up and become the next Prime Minister? That’s my personal view. I know it won’t be shared by everyone, but I don’t see many other options.”
“As reported by the Daily Mail, Mr Burnham has not yet commented on the remarks which come less than two weeks before Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms her Autumn Budget.”
I’m a supporter of Clive Lewis because he has supported me with donation money in the past; he strikes me as one of the few traditional Labour politicians left in the Labour Party.
His intervention is making waves because he has not simply said Starmer should resign (he has said that before, on several occasions).
Support Vox Political!
With social media algorithms acting as gatekeepers – allowing users to read only what their owners want them to, sites like Vox Political need the support of our readers like never before.
You can help by making a donation:
https://Ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
This time he has endorsed a specific successor – Andy Burnham, who is not even in the parliamentary Labour Party; said publicly that the situation cannot continue and Labour grandees should find a way to bring Burnham back into Westminster to become prime minister; and openly contradicted the leadership line that “Labour is united”.
That is a major escalation. In Westminster terms, it is more like a shot across the bow of the entire leadership structure than a casual comment.
It is hugely risky for him because the current Labour hierarchy behaves more like a Cult of Keir than a conventional political leadership team.
It is intensely centralised, intolerant of dissent, and quick to punish MPs who undermine the party line. The examples are clear:
Under that system, Clive Lewis has put a target on his own back.
Possible consequences for him include:
Lewis will know this — which suggests he calculated that the cost of staying quiet now is worse than the cost of speaking out.
So the question is: why did he decide now was the moment?
I can think of three key factors:
1. Labour’s collapse in the polls
If Labour really is hovering around fourth place in some polls, as the Express’s list of linked stories repeatedly insists, then MPs who want to survive may feel they have nothing to lose.
2. The Downing Street briefing war
The leadership is already wounded.
Anonymous briefings against cabinet members, denials from Number 10, accusations of disloyalty from Wes Streeting all make this a structurally weak moment.
3. Burnham’s name keeps surfacing anyway
For weeks, the press — particularly the tabloids — have been treating Burnham as a shadow challenger whether he wants that or not.
Lewis may simply have said out loud what others are thinking privately.
Was it a wise move?
From a career perspective: risky. Extremely risky.
But Lewis has never been one of the careerists. He has always been willing to take principled but costly positions: anti-war, anti-austerity, pro-democracy inside Labour.
If Starmer falls, Lewis will look like a truth-teller who moved early.
If Starmer doesn’t fall, Lewis may find:
but he may also calculate that Starmer cannot survive a polling rout, a budget crisis, and an internal briefing war all at once — and that this is simply getting ahead of the inevitable.
So, what happens next?
The most likely short-term consequences are as follows:
Firstly, the leadership will not respond openly to Lewis. Doing so would acknowledge the challenge.
Anonymous briefings against him will start almost immediately. Expect “senior Labour sources” to question his judgement, loyalty, or electoral relevance.
Other MPs will watch the reaction very closely. If the leadership looks weak or defensive, more may break ranks.
Burnham will stay silent. This is because silence is his only safe option for now. If he comments, it becomes a leadership bid. Silence keeps him in play without commitment.
The press will now frame this as an active leadership crisis. It already was — but now they have an on-the-record quote from a sitting MP endorsing a successor. That is dynamite in Westminster terms.
What can we conclude?
It is increasingly clear that Starmer’s leadership is being held together by fear and discipline rather than enthusiasm or loyalty.
When MPs start openly backing alternative prime ministers, it tells you Starmer’s grip is weakening.
Whether Lewis acted wisely depends on whether the dam bursts or holds.
Right now, it is starting to crack.
Share this post:
Like this:
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