Last that I heard of it was that the NEC endorsed her, so I can't see any other avenue open to those trying to block the selection.

PS - Josh you are so sad. You should definitely not admit posting on here from Cambodia.

Seconded. (Though I have to admit I looked at ednet in a cybercafe in the Old City in Jerusalem...but I don't think thats quite as bad as Cambodia!)

Anyway, here's the story from the NEC report in the latest Socialist Campaign Group News:

Under the organisation sub-committee report, there was a long discussion on whether to endorse Linda Riordan as the parliamentary candidate for Halifax, where Alice Mahon is retiring. Dennis Skinner urged endorsement, saying that this was a working class woman, who had a lot of nominations from party branches and trade unions, and was on the Co-op panel. Cath Speight asked what was the status of co-op and trade union panels if we then reject the people on them? Christine Shawcroft agreed there was a significant issue of local democracy.
Mark Seddon supported what he understood was the recommendation of the constitutional officer, Eric Walton, that she should be endorsed, with more training. Ann Black said the last time the NEC had rejected somebody who had been chosen by the constituency it was Liz Davies, and although she accepted the panel’s assurance that this was not a political decision, that was not how it would appear.
Ian McCartney said he thought the Co-op would have taken a different view if it had known of the party decision. Dennis Skinner raised a letter from the Co-op in January confirming her as a member of the panel, saying that if that had been a trade union it would have been the end of it.
In the vote it was agreed by twelve to eight that Linda Riordan be endorsed as the candidate for Halifax, with most union affiliates voting to endorse. Against endorsing were: Jeremy Beecham, Diane Hayter, Shahid Malik, Ruth Turner, John Prescott, Ian Mcartney, Douglas Alexander and John Hannett. In favour were Ann Black, Christine Shawcroft, Mark Seddon, Dennis Skinner, Norma Stevenson, Maggie Jones, Diana Holland, Mary Turner, Helen Jackson, John Holmes, Cath Speight and Debbie Coulter. Tony Robinson abstained.