Theresa May is facing an election cronyism row after party bosses attempted to parachute four Number 10 aides into seats with vast Tory majorities.

The Prime Minister’s political secretary, government relations director and two policy advisers all want to become MPs next month.

Some were shortlisted for Tory seats with majorities of more than 20,000 votes, meaning they would effectively be guaranteed to enter the House of Commons.

The party’s leadership has been accused of using a rule change because of the snap election to “foist its own friends onto local parties”.