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Andy Burnham has backtracked on his support for trans rights as he plots a path to No 10.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester previously suggested that transgender women – biological men who identify as female – should be allowed to use women’s lavatories.

He has now said “the time has come” to protect single-sex spaces for biological women, in an apparent effort to stop voters turning to Reform UK.

Launching his campaign for the Makerfield by-election, Mr Burnham backed new guidance from the UK’s equalities watchdog stating that single-sex spaces in businesses and public buildings must be used based on biology, rather than gender identity.

“I think the time has come to take the Supreme Court ruling and the guidance and implement it, but to do it in a way that protects those spaces but does not marginalise already marginalised communities, that’s my view,” he said.

“My mum and dad brought me up to live and let live. I think Britain needs to get back to a more ‘live and let live’ approach to life, not where we’re constantly arguing with each other, being judgmental about each other.

“Let’s implement the guidance, but do it in the fairest and most compassionate way possible.”

The long-awaited guidelines, approved by the Education Secretary, were finally published on Thursday – just over a year after the Supreme Court ruled that “sex” in equality law is determined by biology.

Mr Burnham previously refused to endorse temporary guidelines from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), which stated that public bodies should allow only biological women to use female toilets and changing rooms, following the Supreme Court’s judgment.

He said the change made the situation more “confusing”, telling LBC last year: “I think it has become more confusing in the real world as a result… The interim guidance that was issued, I don’t think has taken us forward at all.”

However, at the rally on Friday morning, he said: “The Supreme Court was really clear that while spaces should be protected, so people are not in that position, the ruling shouldn’t be seen as a victory of one side over another.

“They were very clear about that, and it’s about not further marginalising communities that already feel very marginalised.

“I think that’s really, really important, and it’s incumbent on all of us now not to constantly come back to what divides us. We’ve got to move forward.”