can you withdraw your resignation?

[workshy]

I have been offered a job and they want me to start in 4 weeks, subject to reference from my current employer

I don't get on particularly well with my line manager so what if she gives me a bad reference and they withdraw the offer?

can I withdraw my resignation -I have to give them 4 weeks notice

If the line manager doesnt like you then it wouldnt be in her interests to give you an overly negative reference, so hopefull it will be OK.

that's what I was thinking but about a year ago I had quite a bit of sickness due to thyroid condition not being diagnosed

I've been fine since but she may say I'm unreliable?

I did tell them about it in the interview though and told them it was now controlled

No, if you resign you can't force them to allow you to withdraw it. You can by mutual consent but not if they don't want you to.

No. I have had someone try to do this and refused to allow them to retract their notice.