Gavron to quit Mayor race

Ken Livingstone's bid to rejoin Labour took a step forward today as his mayoral challenger Nicky Gavron indicated that she was prepared to stand aside for him.

The move by Labour's official candidate stepped up pressure on the party's ruling national executive to readmit Mr Livingstone at a key meeting next week.

The vote is set to be close, with senior figures at odds over what to do about the Mayor.

Tony Blair is understood to want him back as the party's official candidate next year, while John Prescott is leading the opposition.

In a statement Ms Gavron said: "During the last few months I have listened intently to the views and concerns of party members and supporters at every level.

"My absolute priority is to reunite the Labour vote in London. The best way to achieve this unity is to combine the existing strengths of both our campaigns and for Ken Livingstone and myself to work together for the good of Labour and London."

While she stopped short of quitting as Labour candidate, her announcement made it all but impossible for her to carry on in her position until polling day.

She is understood to have told party chiefs that she is prepared to do a deal which would see Mr Livingstone replace her as candidate, while she would become his running-mate and deputy mayor.

The move by Ms Gavron flew in the face of her comments in an interview with the Standard in October, when she called her position "non-negotiable" and said: "Like Tony Blair, I don't have a reverse gear. The party has taken its decision. It has selected its candidate."

However, the state of the polls has left her with little choice.

Private polling carried out by Mr Livingstone and Tory candidate Steve Norris has shown Ms Gavron to be heading for an embarrassing fourth place in the election next June.

She is trailing with support from around 10 per cent of London voters - well behind Mr Livingstone, Mr Norris and Lib-Dem Simon Hughes.