A woman at the centre of a vote-rigging row is being parachuted into a key marginal seat by Labour ’ s biggest union donor . Karie Murphy , a close friend of Unite leader Len McCluskey , was suspended by Labour in 2013 and reported to police after allegations that the union had tried to manipulate the selection process in Falkirk in her favour . She was later cleared and had her membership re-instated , but she quit as Labour candidate in the Scottish seat for the sake of ‘ reconciliation and unity ’ . Karie Murphy , pictured , was involved in the Falkirk vote rigging scandal in 2013 which led to her suspension . Unite now wants Miss Murphy to be selected in key marginal Halifax where the current Labour MP , Linda Riordan , has announced she is stepping down . Her possible inclusion on an all-women shortlist , to be announced on Tuesday , risks re-opening the wounds of the bitter Falkirk row just weeks before the election and is proving a headache for Ed Miliband . The Labour leader has been warned that his party risks losing the seat if Miss Murphy is selected , but the union could stop bankrolling the party ’ s election campaign if she is not chosen . Unite has already mounted a strong campaign to ensure Miss Murphy is the candidate . Mrs Riordan , also a Unite member , has taken her on a tour of the seat to introduce her to local members . The pair have also been pictured campaigning with Labour councillors . Unite is also organising a campaign day in the seat on Sunday , two days before the candidates on the all-women shortlist are revealed . It is hoping to flood the constituency with members from all over Yorkshire and Humber in what is seen as a ‘ peacock exercise ’ to show off the resources it could deploy if Miss Murphy is chosen . Unite members in the region have been told their support ‘ is vitally important ’ . Len McCluskey , pictured , wants Miss Murphy included on the all-woman shortlist in Halifax . A spokesman for the union last night confirmed that it ‘ hopes ’ Miss Murphy is put on the shortlist of candidates . He dismissed suggestions that Mr McCluskey had threatened to halt funding Labour ’ s General Election campaign if she is not chosen as ‘ complete and utter rubbish ’ . Labour yesterday confirmed that an all-women shortlist would be decided for the Halifax seat on Tuesday , with the local party voting on its chosen candidate next Saturday . The shortlist is picked by the ‘ special selection panel ’ , which Mr Miliband sits on . The announcement came hours after Mrs Riordan claimed the party had been ‘ dragging its feet ’ over the selection since she made her decision more than a month ago that she would step down on health grounds . In a letter to the party ’ s general secretary Iain McNicol , which was leaked to the local paper , she claimed that there were suspicions the selection was being delayed so the party could impose its own candidate . The seat , where Mrs Riordan has a majority of 1,472 , is number 18 on the Tories ’ target list . Unite has given Labour more than £14million since Mr Miliband became leader . Nearly 130 candidates standing for the party in May have links to the union . Labour ’ s internal report into the Falkirk row , which was leaked , found party officials had concerns over the way Unite was allegedly recruiting members to ‘ pack ’ the local party before the vote to select its election candidate . Unite has always denied any wrongdoing .
Karie ward was suspended during a vote - buying scandal in Falkirk in 2013 . Miss Murphy was cleared by the Labour party after the investigation . The Unite member is now seeking the party 's nomination in parliament . Miss Murphy is a pressure on union boss Len ##eson , who is backing her . Labour is running an all - party shortlist on members in Halifax .