Return journey: Livingstone

The prime minister has given a strong hint that Ken Livingstone's exile from the Labour Party could be brought to an early end.

Speculation about the mayor's readmission grew at Westminster last night after Tony Blair sidestepped a question on the mayor's future.

Livingstone's possible readmission has raised questions about the fate of Labour's official candidate for next year's mayoral race.

Party strategists have been considering their options after opinion poll data revealed that Nicky Gavron could be run into fourth place.

Speaking in the Commons the prime minister pointedly refused to name Gavron when challenged over who he would support for the mayoral race.

"I, of course, always support the Labour candidate," Blair told MPs.

The Labour leader met Gavron on Tuesday night to discuss her options.

Some sources say she is resigned to the fact that she will have to stand aside to allow Livingstone to return.

The meeting came amid growing signs that Labour's senior figures have forgiven the maverick mayor.

Livingstone was expelled from the Labour Party after he ran as an independent candidate.

But in recent weeks there have been signs of an early thaw in relations between the party's high command and the former Brent East MP.

Home secretary David Blunkett said Livingstone was "very different from the man I dealt with 30 years ago".

The mayor also signalled that he was willing to let bygones be bygones when he took to the hustings to campaign for Labour in the Brent East by-election.

And an increasing number of London's Labour MPs have added their voice to calls for Livingstone's readmission.

They fear that Gavron coming fourth - or a Conservative victory in the capital - could have a significant impact on many marginal seats.

Former transport minister Glenda Jackson told ePolitix.com that she wanted Livingstone brought back into the fold.

"I see absolutely no reason why he shouldn't be back in. He's always been a member of the Labour Party spiritually, politically and emotionally," she said.

"He's been an extremely good mayor and supported Labour candidates."

Ilford North MP Linda Perham also backed calls for Livingstone to be brought back.

"Yes, Ken should be readmitted. He has not been a member of any other party. He has supported Labour candidates and conducted himself in a way a Labour mayor should," she said.

Blair is said to favour Gavron running as Livingstone's deputy, giving her a way of standing down without losing face.

But this would have to be endorsed by Labour's National Executive Committee.

The new ambiguity about Gavron's future has been seized on by her political rivals.

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Simon Hughes claimed any bid to back "Red Ken" would lead to "more blood on the carpet".

"If Mr Livingstone is to rejoin the Labour Party and stand as the official Labour candidate, he also has to stand by all of Labours' policies - on Iraq, on top up and tuition fees, on foundation hospitals, on council tax and on the privatisation of the Tube," he said.

"Having lost in Brent East, Labour are so scared of losing they are now even prepared to contemplate bringing Tony Blair's pet hate back into the party."