Former Health Secretary Andy Burnham has been called to give evidence to the public inquiry into failures at Stafford Hospital, it was revealed today.

The Labour MP will appear before Robert Francis QC to defend the Labour Government’s handling of the scandal and what led to it.

Mr Burnham will appear at the inquiry along with former Minister of State for Health Ben Bradshaw. Both men have been named in the latest witness list for the hearings, which includes some of the most senior NHS bosses in England.

Leading civil servants from the Department of Health will also take to the witness stand to answer questions. Mr Burnham will give evidence on Tuesday September 6, followed by Mr Bradshaw the next day.

The list of witnesses runs until September 29 and does not include the former chief executive Martin Yeates or the hospital’s former chairman Toni Brisby.

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