Labour Party members and supporters are waiting to see what the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decides about its potential candidate for Worcester, Mandy Richards.

Ms Richards was selected last week by the local party to fight the next general election - but her candidacy has to be approved by the national party’s ruling body, and that hasn’t yet happened.

Since her adoption locally, details have emerged of a court case Ms Richards brought against a number of public bodies, including the police and intelligence services and which was dismissed. She was put under ‘civil restraint’ by the High Court, meaning she cannot bring a lawsuit without judicial approval.

Ms Richards’ Twitter feed has also been scrutinised, including tweets where she seems to suggest a number of terrorist attacks, including Manchester and Westminster were in some way fabricated.

Last night members of the local party’s executive committee met to discuss the matter. It is understood that the meeting coincided with a meeting in London of the national executive.

The local party is believed to be communicating some of its members’ misgivings about Ms Richards as a candidate, but it seems that, having properly elected Ms Richards, it will have to abide by the NEC’s decision on whether to endorse her as a candidate, or to re-open the procedure to select a new one.