Labour to pick woman for Halifax
Nominations have opened and a party selection panel will draw up a longlist on Monday.
The potential candidates will be interview on Tuesday and those that make it onto the shortlist will then take part in a hustings in the constituency on March 21.
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Hide AdA special selection panel meeting today decided there should be an all-woman shortlist for the constituency.
Sitting Labour MP Linda Riordan announced last month that she would not be contesting the election on May 7, blaming health problems.
Labour only hung on to the seat in 2010 by 1,472 votes and Halifax is a high priority target for the Conservatives
It has been reported that the delay in Labour selecting a replacement for Mrs Riordan is the result of an internal tug of war with the Unite union which wants to see Karie Murphy on the shortlist.
Ms Murphy was nominated to be Labour’s candidate in Falkirk but the selection process was marred by allegations of vote-rigging. She withdrew from the contest and was cleared of any wrongdoing.