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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Falkirk vote-rigging row: Labour 'should publish report' | Falkirk vote-rigging row: Labour 'should publish report' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour is under pressure to publish an internal report that cleared Unite of claims it tried to rig the selection of a party candidate in Falkirk. | Labour is under pressure to publish an internal report that cleared Unite of claims it tried to rig the selection of a party candidate in Falkirk. |
| It found no rules were broken and two union officials - one the candidate - have been reinstated as members. | It found no rules were broken and two union officials - one the candidate - have been reinstated as members. |
| The Tories said Unite was "calling the shots" but Labour said it had acted to protect party interests amid the rift between its leadership and the union. | The Tories said Unite was "calling the shots" but Labour said it had acted to protect party interests amid the rift between its leadership and the union. |
| Karie Murphy later withdrew as the general election candidate. | Karie Murphy later withdrew as the general election candidate. |
| She said she had been "shocked and saddened" by what had happened but would no longer stand for selection for the sake of "reconciliation and unity". | She said she had been "shocked and saddened" by what had happened but would no longer stand for selection for the sake of "reconciliation and unity". |
| 'Reconciliation and unity' | 'Reconciliation and unity' |
| Labour started seeking a candidate for the Falkirk seat when MP Eric Joyce announced he would be stepping down at the next election after he was convicted of assault at a Commons bar. | |
| The party had been investigating allegations that Unite tried to sign up members without their knowledge in the constituency to ensure their favoured candidate, Ms Murphy, was selected for the 2015 general election. | |
| The claims sparked the row between Unite and party leader leader Ed Miliband, who later proposed widespread changes to Labour's links with the unions. | The claims sparked the row between Unite and party leader leader Ed Miliband, who later proposed widespread changes to Labour's links with the unions. |
| On Friday, the party said an internal inquiry had found no evidence to suggest that rules were breached after "key evidence" was withdrawn. | On Friday, the party said an internal inquiry had found no evidence to suggest that rules were breached after "key evidence" was withdrawn. |
| The party said that neither Ms Murphy nor Stevie Deans, a fellow Unite member who was chair of the local Labour Party, had been found guilty of any wrongdoing and both had been reinstated. | The party said that neither Ms Murphy nor Stevie Deans, a fellow Unite member who was chair of the local Labour Party, had been found guilty of any wrongdoing and both had been reinstated. |
| The internal report - and a previous internal report into concerns over the selection process - have not been published. | The internal report - and a previous internal report into concerns over the selection process - have not been published. |
| The Conservative Party said it appeared to be a "stitch-up" designed to end a bitter row with Unite - Labour's biggest financial backer. | The Conservative Party said it appeared to be a "stitch-up" designed to end a bitter row with Unite - Labour's biggest financial backer. |
| 'Stop dithering' | 'Stop dithering' |
| Chairman Grant Shapps said: "If Ed Miliband can't even stand up to his union paymasters, how can he stand up for hardworking people? | Chairman Grant Shapps said: "If Ed Miliband can't even stand up to his union paymasters, how can he stand up for hardworking people? |
| "Weak Ed Miliband must now stop dithering, come clean and publish Labour's report into the Falkirk selection in full." | "Weak Ed Miliband must now stop dithering, come clean and publish Labour's report into the Falkirk selection in full." |
| But a Labour spokesman said: "At each step Labour's general secretary and NEC [National Executive Committee] have acted quickly to protect the interests of the party. | But a Labour spokesman said: "At each step Labour's general secretary and NEC [National Executive Committee] have acted quickly to protect the interests of the party. |
| "Since Labour began its internal process key evidence has been withdrawn and further evidence provided by individuals concerned." | "Since Labour began its internal process key evidence has been withdrawn and further evidence provided by individuals concerned." |
| Police were asked to investigate the matter but decided there were "insufficient grounds" to justify further inquiries. | Police were asked to investigate the matter but decided there were "insufficient grounds" to justify further inquiries. |
| But the case is also the subject of an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office into claims that data protection rules may have been broken in the Scottish constituency. | But the case is also the subject of an investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office into claims that data protection rules may have been broken in the Scottish constituency. |
| Falkirk MP Eric Joyce said questions remained over the events. | |
| Tom Watson, the Labour MP who stood down from the shadow cabinet after the row, said people would be "raising eyebrows" when they saw Labour had launched a "complete reassessment" of its relations with the unions on the basis of an inaccurate report. | |
| But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The basis for the report was a mess and Ed's office have been able to drill into that issue and realise that." | |
| Mr Watson said it appeared the complaints that prompted the report came from a rival candidate and the party should now apologise to Ms Murphy, who was his office manager, and Mr Deans. | |
| "They have had a terrible few months: they have been staked out by tabloid journalists, had their characters traduced in the newspapers, been attacked by frontbenchers; and now they've been found innocent of any of the allegations," he said. | |
| The Falkirk row prompted Mr Miliband to call for an overhaul of the process by which union members affiliate to Labour - a move which would have cost the party millions in funding but which he says could revitalise the party and boost membership. | The Falkirk row prompted Mr Miliband to call for an overhaul of the process by which union members affiliate to Labour - a move which would have cost the party millions in funding but which he says could revitalise the party and boost membership. |
| The GMB union announced earlier this week that it would cut affiliation fees to Labour by nearly £1m. | The GMB union announced earlier this week that it would cut affiliation fees to Labour by nearly £1m. |
| Mr Watson told Today: "Falkirk clearly was a catalyst for that reform process. It's clearly not a reform based on the experience of Falkirk - but there is a crisis in political parties, members are dwindling, we need to do our business differently." | |
| Labour's ruling NEC will draw up a list of potential candidates from which local party members will choose a prospective MP to represent the party in the 2015 election. |