Prime Minister Andy Burnham is understood to have cancelled engagements for Monday and Tuesday following the death of his father Roy.

Burnham has previously spoken about his father, who had Alzheimer’s, when explaining why he was so determined to reform adult social care in England.

He also revealed his father did not know he had become prime minister in July, because of his condition.

The PM was due to host a meeting of business leaders in Downing Street later.