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.

Andy Burnham has long been rumoured with a return to parliament (Image: Danny Lawson)

But the speculation about him and Mr Burnham were reignited........

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