FORMER MP Katy Clark is at the centre of the latest baiting of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The traditionally Conservative Daily Telegraph last week reported that Corbyn was being accused of a ‘stitch up’ to ensure that Katy Clark, who has been working as the Labour leader’s political secretary having lost her North Ayrshire seat in May, was selected for an upcoming by-election in Wales.

The outgoing MP, Huw Irranca-Davies, is said to have approached Corbyn’s office to complain that Katy Clark is being ‘imposed’ on the constituency.

Ironically, Mr Irranca-Davies was at the centre of a very similar row on being selected for the Ogmore seat in 2002. He secured the position amid claims that Labour had intentionally kept journalist Mark Seddon, viewed as a left-winger, from the party shortlist.

More recently, there were claims that the Progress group - considered to be a Blairite group within the parliamentary Labour Party - had been throwing money at the party to ensure that their favoured candidates were ‘parachuted’ into safe seats in response to claims that the trade unions had too much influence on selection.

No date has been set for the Ogmore by-election, although it is expected around the same time as May’s Scottish Parliament elections. Mr Irranca Davies is quitting as MP to fight for a Welsh Assembly seat.

Ms Clark was long viewed as one of the more radical Labour MPs and held the North Ayrshire and Arran and was prominent in Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership campaign - sharing many of his views.

She was rewarded in November 2015 when she was named as Corbyn’s political secretary - with significant influence on party policy.

The Telegraph claimed that a senior Labour Minister had said: “People in Wales will be furious if they try to stitch it up for Katy or someone like Chris Williamson.

“All the Welsh MPs are very worried about this because you need a strong local candidate with real ties to the area for a by-election nowadays.”

The National Executive Committee set the shortlist, from which local members elect their candidate. They could also insist upon an all woman shortlist.