Labour has selected a candidate to fight the key marginal seat of Worcester who appeared to promote conspiracy theories about the murder of MP Jo Cox, the Westminster terror attack and the Manchester Arena bombing.

The candidate, Mandy Richards, already faces calls to stand down - with Worcester's former Labour MP, Mike Foster, saying she should be "sacked immediately".

Ms Richards is also the subject of a high court restraining order, and has been banned from bringing court actions without the permission of a judge after she spent an estimated £500,000 in taxpayers' cash on false claims.

She had alleged that MI5, MI6, the Metropolitan Police, the Army, Thames Water, the Royal Mail, Hackney Council, her GP and others were harassing her.

In 2017, after a terrorist murdered 5 people including a police officer at Westminster, she Tweeted a video with the caption "Westminster 'terror attack' investigation. Are we being lied to again?".

Labour candidate Mandy Richards Tweets about the Westminster terror attacks
Labour candidate Mandy Richards Tweets about the Westminster terror attacks

Ms Richards added the comment: "Glad someone asking right questions about terror coverage. #JoCox incident conveniently bereft of evidence too."

This was a reference to the murder of MP Jo Cox by a right-wing extremist in 2016.

And following the terrorist bombing of Manchester Arena, which killed 23, she Tweeted: "Can news agencies,police or anyone else for that matter explain why still no images/footage of physical damage at #ManchesterArena?".

Labour candidate Mandy Richards Tweets about the Manchester Arena bombing
Labour candidate Mandy Richards Tweets about the Manchester Arena bombing

Worcester is a marginal seat where Labour are the challengers. It's currently held by the Conservatives with a majority of 2,490.

Labour politician Mike Foster was the city's MP from 1997 to 2010. And he's now demanding Labour sack Ms Richards as its candidate.

He said on Twitter: "She cannot be @UKLabour candidate for Worcester at the next election. We cannot gift the Tories the seat like this."

And he said: "It's devastating. Giving the Tories a free hit unless she resigns or is sacked by @UKLabour."

Ms Richards referred requests for a comment to the Labour Party press office in the West Midlands.

The Labour Party declined to comment.

People applying to become Labour candidates are asked on the application form and by the interview panel to disclose anything in their background which could embarrass themselves or the party in the media, or bring the Party into disrepute in any way, and Ms Richards is said to have failed to disclose any information in response to that question.