The Labour Party has faced renewed calls to contest elections in Northern Ireland.

Belfast trade union member Andy McGivern met with members of the constitutional department on Thursday to discuss the issue.

He has threatened to take court action to force them to set up constituency associations in Ulster.

"I am meeting Peter Watt of the constitutional department to see how we can set up the full organisation of the Labour Party in Northern Ireland," he told journalists.

"That means branches and constituency parties.

"As it sits, people in Northern Ireland can only become members but the membership card is meaningless if you cannot enjoy the full benefits."

Membership of the Labour Party was only made possible in Northern Ireland after McGivern, a deputy shop steward for the GMB union, took legal action.

Policy forum plea

However since there are no constituency parties in the province, there is no chance of a Northern Irish member being elected to the national policy forum.

"I also firmly believe Northern Ireland needs the Labour Party to contend the election in the province, to provide a non-sectarian socialist alternative," added McGivern.

"We are in a situation where we are probably 18 months away from a general election and from local government elections in Northern Ireland.

"There is enough time for the party to get itself organised and I feel that we could win seats particularly in local councils if we get ourselves organised and Northern Ireland gains full membership rights.

"If the party continues to resist the setting up of branches, then regrettably I may have to go back down a legal route to try and change their minds.

"It was regrettable that I had to do that to achieve a listing of the ban on people in Northern Ireland becoming Labour members and it is something I certainly do not want to have to do that again.

"But there is no reason why it should have to come to that."