LABOUR officials are trying to fix the party’s leadership race for the favourite David Miliband, a former Liverpool MP has claimed.

Peter Kilfoyle has demanded an investigation, alleging the shadow Foreign Secretary’s campaign has received exclusive access to Labour’s membership lists.

The lists – with names, addresses and telephone numbers for all 200,000-odd Labour members – would be a huge boost to any campaign. The rank-and-file will have one-third of votes in the contest.

Mr Kilfoyle, who stood down as Walton MP at the election in May, said he was startled to receive a letter from “David Miliband’s team” at his home address, urging him to back the frontrunner.

The Daily Post understands two of Mr Miliband’s rivals, Liverpool-born Andy Burnham and Ed Balls, the shadow schools secretary, have also lodged protests with Labour’s high command.

One member, who joined the party only a few weeks earlier, received a call on his mobile from a David Miliband aide.

However, Mr Miliband’s campaign immediately hit back, insisting Mr Kilfoyle had got his facts wrong and that their candidate had stayed within party rules at all times.

A spokeswoman explained: “We definitely have not been passed the membership lists by the party, but the party did agree to send out leaflets that we printed, on our behalf.

“This was an offer that was open to all of the candidates, so it was totally within the rules. David is keen to do anything within the rules to talk to ordinary party members.”