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Karie Murphy withdraws as Labour candidate for Falkirk after union row Karie Murphy withdraws as Labour candidate for Falkirk after union row
(12 days later)
A prospective Labour MP who was suspended from the party and reported to the police by party officials over allegations of selection fixing has pulled out of the process despite being cleared by an internal inquiry.A prospective Labour MP who was suspended from the party and reported to the police by party officials over allegations of selection fixing has pulled out of the process despite being cleared by an internal inquiry.
Karie Murphy, who was backed by trade union Unite, has been reinstated to the party but said she was withdrawing from the race for the Falkirk seat for the sake of "reconciliation and unity". The police inquiry was dropped in July.Karie Murphy, who was backed by trade union Unite, has been reinstated to the party but said she was withdrawing from the race for the Falkirk seat for the sake of "reconciliation and unity". The police inquiry was dropped in July.
While party officials are keen to draw a line under the affair, behind the scenes there remain deep divisions within the Labour movement over how the row was handled. Some party insiders have questioned Ed Miliband's judgment in calling in the police and allowing Murphy's suspension before party officials had fully examined the allegations.While party officials are keen to draw a line under the affair, behind the scenes there remain deep divisions within the Labour movement over how the row was handled. Some party insiders have questioned Ed Miliband's judgment in calling in the police and allowing Murphy's suspension before party officials had fully examined the allegations.
One said: "Ed Miliband was not in full possession of the facts but still rushed to judgment in the middle of a media frenzy. He made the wrong call."One said: "Ed Miliband was not in full possession of the facts but still rushed to judgment in the middle of a media frenzy. He made the wrong call."
In a statement, a Labour spokesman said "key evidence" had been withdrawn from the inquiry, believed to relate to claims people were signed up as party members without their knowledge in a bid to stuff the constituency with Unite supporters.In a statement, a Labour spokesman said "key evidence" had been withdrawn from the inquiry, believed to relate to claims people were signed up as party members without their knowledge in a bid to stuff the constituency with Unite supporters.
"Karie Murphy and [constituency party chairman] Stevie Deans, who were suspended, will now be reinstated as they have not been guilty of any wrongdoing," he said."Karie Murphy and [constituency party chairman] Stevie Deans, who were suspended, will now be reinstated as they have not been guilty of any wrongdoing," he said.
The pair were suspended and the Falkirk constituency party put into "special measures" after an internal report – not yet published but leaked to a newspaper – found concerns over the process of selecting a candidate for the 2015 general election.The pair were suspended and the Falkirk constituency party put into "special measures" after an internal report – not yet published but leaked to a newspaper – found concerns over the process of selecting a candidate for the 2015 general election.
The report claimed that recently recruited party members had been signed up without their knowledge in order to support Murphy, claims that have always been vigorously denied by her and her supporters.The report claimed that recently recruited party members had been signed up without their knowledge in order to support Murphy, claims that have always been vigorously denied by her and her supporters.
The party referred the matter to the police and handed over documents but Police Scotland ruled in July that there were "insufficient grounds" for a criminal investigation.The party referred the matter to the police and handed over documents but Police Scotland ruled in July that there were "insufficient grounds" for a criminal investigation.
It was the ensuing bitter public dispute between Miliband and Unite general secretary Len McCluskey that pushed the opposition leader to propose reforms to Labour's historic links with the trade unions.It was the ensuing bitter public dispute between Miliband and Unite general secretary Len McCluskey that pushed the opposition leader to propose reforms to Labour's historic links with the trade unions.
Tom Watson – for whom Murphy worked -– quit as the party's general election co-ordinator at the height of the dispute. He told the Guardian: "I had no doubt on day one that Karie and Stevie were innocent of the allegations that were made against them in the media by unnamed party sources. It has not been a great episode for anyone."Tom Watson – for whom Murphy worked -– quit as the party's general election co-ordinator at the height of the dispute. He told the Guardian: "I had no doubt on day one that Karie and Stevie were innocent of the allegations that were made against them in the media by unnamed party sources. It has not been a great episode for anyone."
In a statement released by Unite, Murphy said her continued presence in the Falkirk contest would "detract" from the work of selecting a good candidate.In a statement released by Unite, Murphy said her continued presence in the Falkirk contest would "detract" from the work of selecting a good candidate.
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