Unlike the last election, he has now been elected unopposed and will continue to serve for a further two-year term.

"I am delighted to have been re-elected to the National Executive Committee. The work of the Committee is extremely important and I look forward to working together with the other members of the Committee to progress party policy," Vaz said.

The longest serving Asian MP in parliament, Vaz will represent members of BAME (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) is the governing body of the Labour Party that oversees the overall direction of the party and the policy-making process.

It carries out this role by setting strategic objectives on an annual basis and meeting monthly to review the work of the party in these areas.