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Labour is selecting its candidate for the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election, and accelerating the process.

Labour's ruling body - the NEC - will interview candidates and draw-up a shortlist towards the end of this week. On Sunday the local party will meet to vote on their new candidate.

But I gather preparation work has been underway for some time.

I have been told Iain Wright, the Hartlepool MP, has been lined-up to the be the campaign's political director.

He won his own seat in a by-election in 2004 when Peter Mandelson stood down as the MP for Hartlepool.

Mr Wright has already held informal conversations with some of the potential candidates, well before the Woolas case was resolved.

which includes a number of names which would distance the party from the Woolas saga.

Among them Josh MacAlister is the youngest candidate and could be the face of change.

Peter Wheeler is a former member of the NEC and is a popular Labour character.

Meanwhile Afzal Khan is running a professional campaign and as a Muslim would certainly draw a line under the Woolas affair.

As for the date of the by-election, the Liberal Democrats want to take advantage of their headstart and are aiming for 13th January.

But Labour prefers a slightly longer campaign with voting on 3rd February.

Once the writ is moved, a by-election must be held within 15 to 19 working days. This means that Labour will probably not move the writ until next year.

I'm told the Lib Dems might break convention and move the writ themselves, possibly with Tory support. But I think it's much more likely that Labour will decide.

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