John Marek had appealed against deselection

The Wrexham AM was told on Tuesday that Lesley Griffiths had been endorsed as the Labour candidate despite his claims he had been the victim of a smear campaign.

The Welsh Labour Executive Committee's decision was reached after an independent investigation into Dr Marek's allegations.

Dr Marek dismissed that as a "whitewash" and said he now had three options - "do nothing, seek a judicial review or stand as an independent".

He added standing as an independent was the mostly likely course of action.

Mrs Griffiths said she was delighted with the result.

"The work now starts in earnest," she said.

Dr Marek claimed he was the victim of an alleged smear campaign, which began after a letter written a year ago by Mrs Griffiths's councillor husband, Gareth.

The claim has been categorically denied by Mrs Griffiths, who was formerly secretary to Dr Marek.

Lesley Griffiths says she's delighted with the outcome

Dr Marek first said the contest was unfair when he lost the reselection fight by 84 votes to 80.

An investigator from England was appointed to carry out the inquiry.

A Wales Labour spokesperson said the party were confident that Dr Marek had been dealt with fairly.

"The Welsh Executive Committee panel concluded that John Marek was not materially disadvantaged in the selection procedure," she said.

"The result of the Wrexham constituency selection member ballot is therefore upheld and Lesley Griffiths endorsed as the Labour party candidate for Wrexham for May's Welsh Assembly elections."

Mrs Griffiths had always maintained that she ran a clean campaign.

Stand as independent

She said it was a mistake for her husband to write the letter, but it was nothing to do with her and she did not see the letter until a week after he wrote it.

Mr Griffiths's letter to the Wrexham Labour council group chairman said he was resigning because of Dr Marek and the party's willingness to support him.

But Mr Griffiths did not carry out his threat to quit.

Dr Marek said it was another letter - which was anonymous - that wrecked his chances of reselection.

This letter accusing him of disloyalty was the main plank of his appeal to the party executive.

Dr Marek has represented Wrexham as an MP and then AM for 20 years.