Ken benefits as Labour brings back block votes

Ken Livingstone will be helped back into the Labour Party by the use of old-fashioned trade union block votes, it has emerged.

Tony Blair has authorised the return of block votes which will see a handful of union general secretaries casting a vote on behalf of their members.

Block votes were scrapped following an outcry when they were used by No10 to install Frank Dobson as Labour's candidate for Mayor in 2000.

Now critics fear their revival will set a precedent that will allow Mr Blair to "fix" the results of future selection contests. Mr Livingstone faces a "loyalty test" interview with Labour officials this week, followed by a vote on the party's ruling national executive. If, as expected, he clears both hurdles, he will rejoin Labour.

But he still faces a ballot of activists and unions next June.

Unions have welcomed the change in policy because it is quicker and cheaper for them to cast block votes than to arrange postal ballots.