Ken close to Labour return

Ken Livingstone could be back in the Labour fold by Christmas under fast-track plans being drawn up at Tony Blair's behest.

Labour's ruling National Executive is expected to act within weeks to tear up the five-year suspension imposed on Mr Livingstone after he beat Frank Dobson to become Mayor of London.

But the moves have hit a stumbling block in the shape of Labour's official candidate for next year's mayoral elections, Nicky Gavron, who is refusing to stand down in favour of Mr Livingstone.

The plan to bring back Livingstone was revealed exclusively in the Evening Standard a month ago. For legal reasons he will be invited to rejoin the party the National Executive Committee rather than have to go through the normal process of making an application. Last week sources close to Chancellor Gordon Brown confirmed that the Prime Minister was taking a personal

interest and had instructed Labour chairman Ian McCartney to set the deal in motion.

Ms Gavron's spokesman, however, insisted she would not withdraw from the contest, despite a poll showing she could come a humiliating

fourth. "Nicky is forging ahead with her campaign," he said. "No one from the Labour Party has formally come to us to ask her not to run."

Labour officials think she can be persuaded to withdraw, with a face-saving promise to run as Mr Livingstone's deputy. She could even offered a peerage.

If she agrees, the contest would become a straight between the three main party candidates - Steve Norris the Tories, Simon Hughes for the Liberal Democrats and Mr Livingstone for Labour.

Labour's general secretary David Triesman has taken legal advice on how to bring back Mr Livingstone without creating a legal precedent that could be exploited by expelled militants. They advised the problem could be avoided if the NEC issued an invitation to him to sidestep the rules.