Murphy says Unite “well and truly overstepped the mark” in Falkirk West

Speaking to BBC News this morning, Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said:

“Something had gone really badly wrong in Falkirk when it came to the selection of the Labour candidate. I don’t blame the people locally – there’s clearly been some external interference. And while trade unions are an important part of a society and our politics, there seems to be one trade union in particular that’s well and truly overstepped the mark. It’s clear that Unite don’t run the Labour party; Ed Miliband does. And we should never confuse those two things.”

Murphy has been one of few Shadow Cabinet members who have spoken publicly on events in Falkirk West, tweeting last week:

Labour Party has made the right but unavoidable decision on Falkirk selection. Would rather it hadn’t come to this.