Starmer allies reject claims leftwingers blocked from standing for Labour

Party figures understood to have urged leader to rein in acolytes after candidates from left excluded from longlists

Keir Starmer's allies have rejected claims he is acting to block anyone to the left of Tony Blair" from standing for the party at the next general election, as his project of reshaping Labour moves to its next stage: parliamentary selections.

Since the swing of more than 12% to Labour in last week's Wakefield byelection raised the possibility of an outright majority for Starmer at the next general election, the focus on the party's next wave of MPs has intensified.