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Jeremy Corbyn could stay Labour leader “whatever happens” in the general election because it would help stabilise the party, Clive Lewis has suggested.

The former shadow minister - who is defending a majority of more than 8,000 in Norwich South - said the decision would be for the Labour leader if the party loses on June 8.

But he said: “I think one of the things we learnt after Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown is that when leaders of the party leave immediately after it can be quite destabilising.

“So I think there’s an argument that whatever happens Jeremy Corbyn stays on and makes sure that he hands the Labour Party over in good order.”

Left-winger Mr Lewis nominated Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership and was considered an ally before he quit the shadow cabinet to vote against triggering Article 50.

(Image: SWNS - Leeds SWNS.com)

Tonight he spoke at the launch of Progressive Alliance, a campaign to unite left-wing votes around unity candidates in key seats - against the Labour leader’s wishes.

Mr Corbyn refused to say whether he’d step down in the event of a Labour defeat in an interview with ITV’s Tonight.

He said: “We’re fighting to win. I’m proud to lead this party, I’m going to lead this party to win the general election. That’s the only question at the moment.

“Are we capable of winning the general election? Yes. Am I determined to do it? Absolutely.”

Mr Lewis denied that campaigning for the so-called Progressive Alliance was an "act of defiance".

(Image: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

He said: " Jeremy Corbyn came in on a platform of doing politics differently and this is doing politics differently.

"It's about people coming together for the common good reaching out to the millions of people in this country who feel disenfranchised and I don't think anyone should have a problem with that."

Mr Lewis said that when the Labour Party was formed and when it's at its best it is the Progressive Alliance but said "now many parties speak to different parts of the electorate."

He told the room which was full of about 1,000 people that he was "proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with anyone who shares my values."