RMT leader Bob Crow says his union may back John Marek

The Wrexham AM has been deselected by his party in a seat he has represented as either an MP or AM for 20 years.

Now the general secretary of the RMT transport union, Bob Crow, has said it may back Dr Marek if he stands on a socialist platform in May's assembly elections.

Dr Marek has lost an appeal to the Labour party against his deselection and is waiting for the result of legal advice on whether he can challenge that decision.

'Outstanding fighter'

If the lawyers say no, Dr Marek says standing as an independent would be his only option.

Mr Crow told BBC Wales's Dragon's Eye programme that he wanted to support Dr Marek.

He described the AM, who is also the assembly's deputy presiding officer, as an "outstanding fighter for workers in the transport industry".

The RMT is affiliated to Labour, but Mr Crow said it was planning to change its rules so that it could be flexible about which political parties it supported.

Mr Crow said: "It's an absolute shame that a committed socialist like John has been kicked out.

"The Labour Party and the public at large want better public services, and all John has tried to do is articulate the views of the public he tried to represent."

The RMT also threw its support behind Ken Livingstone when he stood as an independent candidate in the London mayoral elections following Labour's failure to select him.

It's an absolute shame that a committed socialist like John has been kicked out Bob Crow, RMT leader

Dr Marek's replacement as Labour candidate is his former secretary, Lesley Griffiths.

She described herself as unsurprised at Mr Crow's comments, and said the RMT leader was neither a member nor a supporter of the Labour Party.

Dr Marek has dismissed the findings of the appeal as a "whitewash" and 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.

That claim has been categorically denied by Mrs Griffiths.

She has said that while it was a mistake for her husband to write the letter, it was nothing to do with her and she did not see it until a week later.

The Wales Labour Party has said it is confident that Dr Marek had been dealt with fairly.

Dr Marek says it was another anonymous letter that wrecked his chances of reselection. This letter accusing him of disloyalty was the main plank of his appeal to the party executive.