Karie Murphy wins role in Corbyn’s office

The former Labour candidate at the centre of the Falkirk selection row has been appointed to a job in Jeremy Corbyn’s office

Karie Murphy is expected to start work next week as office manager for the leader of the Opposition.

Murphy, an ally of Unite boss Len McCluskey, stepped down as the Falkirk candidate for the UK parliament in 2013 following allegations that Unite tried to fix the selection in her favour. Both Murphy and Unite were cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation but the episode prompted Ed Miliband to initiate wholesale reforms of Labour’s links with the trade unions.

Murphy has a long history of working in the Labour movement including years spent on the Westminster staff of Tom Watson. She applied to Labour’s candidate for Halifax – following the retirement of Linda Riordan – but did not make it on to the shortlist.

Murphy joins Corbyn’s office as he seeks to finalise his key appointments after his first few months in the job. Neale Coleman, executive director of policy and rebuttal, resigned last month but has held discussions over staying on in an advisory role.

Meanwhile The Times has claimed that Seamus Milne, who is on secondment from The Guardian to work as Corbyn’s communications director, has come under pressure to resign from his role as a newspaper columnist.

A spokeswoman for the Labour Party said they would not comment on staffing matters.