RIGHT-WING Labour bigwigs have sought to “manipulate processes” to remove a parliamentary candidate who came within a whisker of winning last year, sources claimed yesterday.

The process of selecting Glasgow South West’s Westminster candidate has sparked a massive factional row. Failed Scottish Labour leadership contender Anas Sarwar has been accused of intervening in support of Asim Khan, a Glasgow solicitor who is seeking the nomination.

But Matt Kerr, a local councillor and union rep who fell just 60 votes short of unseating the SNP’s Chris Stephens at last year’s general election, has strong support from members to stand again.