An attempt by pro-EU political parties to form a Remain alliance for next month’s Peterborough by-election has ended in failure, with Change UK blaming Labour supporters for negotiations breaking down.

The Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Change UK had held discussions in the hope of uniting behind an independent candidate supportive of another Brexit referendum.

Change UK blamed Labour figures for the breakdown, saying Labour supporters of the campaign for a second referendum had intervened to object to the pro-Remain parties uniting behind a single candidate.

The Peterborough by-election was triggered when voters in the city recalled former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya, who lost her seat after being jailed for perverting the course of justice. She was convicted after being found to have lied about a speeding ticket, and has said she will not stand in the upcoming election.

The seat has traditionally alternated between Labour and the Conservatives, and Labour won it in 2017 by just 600 votes.

It is understood that the pro-Remain parties had agreed to support the same independent candidate in the by-election but that the person decided to withdraw from the contest shortly before the deadline after pressure from figures associated with the Labour Party.

In a statement, Change UK MP Gavin Shuker said: “Change UK, the Green Party, the Liberal Democrats and Renew have been working hard these last few days on a joint approach to the Peterborough by-election, recognising that we need to put the country’s interests first, securing a people’s vote and remaining in the European Union.

“We all agreed to stand down any candidates we might field in favour of a genuinely independent, pro-people’s vote and pro-Remain candidate who had expressed an interest and intention to stand.

“However, senior Labour figures, including senior figures campaigning for a people’s vote, made it clear that they would strenuously disrupt the campaign and obstruct an independent candidate, driven by fears that it would harm their party in Peterborough.”

In a similar statement, the Green Party said it had hoped to agree a joint candidate but that it had “become impossible for this to proceed”.

It said it would therefore field its own candidate while continuing to ”explore options which might best benefit its strong call for a people’s vote and remaining in the European Union”.

The Liberal Democrats said they were “the strongest Remain party” and would be fielding Beki Sellick, a local businesswoman and campaigner, as its candidate.

It is understood that Change UK did not register a candidate in time for Thursday’s deadline.

Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Show all 12 1 /12 Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Change UK Details on the individual MPs are in the following photos Reuters Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Heidi Allen Anti-Brexit MP for South Cambridgeshire resigned from the Conservative party on February 20 PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Chuka Umunna MP for Streatham since 2010 and prominent People's Vote supporter PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Anna Soubry The prominent anti-Brexit MP for Broxtowe resigned from the Conservative party on February 20 PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Luciana Berger MP for Liverpool Wavertree since 2010, resigned from the Labour Party over bullying and anti-semitism PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Sarah Wollaston Anti-Brexit MP for Totnes resigned from the Conservative party on February 20 PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Joan Ryan MP for Enfield North resigned from the Labour party on February 19 citing its tolerance of a "culture of anti-Jewish racism" PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Ann Coffey MP for Stockport since 1992 Chris McAndrew / UK Parliament Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Gavin Shuker MP for Luton South since 2010 Getty Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Chris Leslie MP for Nottingham East since 2010 PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Mike Gapes MP for Ilford South since 1992 PA Which MPs defected to form Change UK? Angela Smith MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge since 2010

The pro-EU parties had hoped to work together to counter the strong Leave vote in the area and the popularity of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party, which has surged in polls for European parliament elections later this month.

The anti-EU party is fielding Mike Greene, a former contestant on Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire, as its candidate in Peterborough.