Livingstone: Labour comeback snubbed

Labour's ruling NEC has rejected Ken Livingstone's bid to rejoin the party.

Livingstone, who was expelled after he stood as an independent candidate in the 2000 London mayoral election, was seeking to rejoin the party in time to become Labour's candidate for the 2004 mayoral contest.

But his attempt at rapprochement with Labour failed when the party's executive voted 17 to 13 against allowing the maverick mayor to rejoin.

Amid speculation of deep Labour splits, a spokesman said the discussion had been taken after "very good, positive and constructive debate, a well thought-out discussion.

"The vote followed a very full and very considered debate and everybody who spoke did acknowledge it was a constructive and positive discussion and it was being conducted without any acrimony," he said.

The snub is a setback for Livingstone, who had expressed confidence that he would be allowed back into the Labour fold.

The key issues for Labour had been whether Livingstone could be trusted to adhere to party rules for the selection of the mayoral candidates.

Many in party's senior ranks felt betrayed when Livingstone ran against Labour after losing out to Frank Dobson in a controversial selection battle.

A move that saw him run as an independent, beating the former health secretary and triggering an automatic five year membership ban.

A number of London MPs have pressed for Livingstone to be readmitted to the party.

And the failure of the national executive to allow him back in time to campaign in 2004 could herald future divisions when Labour selects a challenger for the contest.

Other NEC members, including the deputy prime minister, John Prescott, had spelled strong opposition to Livingstone's reinstatement.

"I just don't believe this man in whatever he says,'' Prescott told the BBC in a recent interview. "But of course I will be fair in my consideration when it comes before the executive."

The mayor and the chancellor have also been engaged in a bitter war of words over the government's plans for London Underground.

Gordon Brown has repeatedly refused to meet Bob Kiley, the mayor's transport commissioner, to discuss the government's proposed public/private partnership for London Underground.

Labour Party chairman, Charles Clarke, met with London Labour MPs recently to discuss how the party will select its candidate for the mayoral poll.

NEC members will also examine the proposals for the system to be used to select the party's candidate for the London election.