Ken: I'd love to rejoin Labour

Ken Livingstone has made his strongest plea yet to be allowed to stand as Labour's next mayoral candidate.

Following months of feigning indifference, the Mayor said he wants to rejoin the party which expelled him three years ago when he fought the election as an independent candidate.

The plea was greeted sceptically by London members but the notion was not rejected by party chairman Charles Clarke.

Canvassing in Brent, Mr Livingstone said: "I would love to be back in the party and I would love to be the Labour candidate for mayor next time."

But he told BBC London he will be in the election with or without Millbank's blessing. "I have made it clear that I will be seeking re-election... The label I wear is not as important as Londoners' right to choose who they want as mayor."

He received some backing from Brent East's Labour MP Paul Daisley, who said the party should put its rows with Mr Livingstone behind it. "I think the experience we went through was not a good one," he said. "Ken is extremely popular across London. I would hope that in the fullness of time he is returned to the fold." But the most significant encouragement came from Mr Clarke, who had private talks with Mr Livingstone last year. Asked if the party would be willing to have Mr Livingstone back, he said: "We agreed not to talk about it any further until after the local council elections. I am not prepared to say anything about that until after May 2."

But the prospect of an early return by Mr Livingstone caused rumblings of discontent in the London party today. Chairman Chris Robbins said: "Every time this comes up the wounds open up. I have not seen over the past 18 months any discernible surge of support in the membership to have him back."

It is known, however, that Labour's high command is struggling to find an attractive candidate to challenge Mr Livingstone in 2004.