London Mayor Ken Livingstone has applied to rejoin the Labour Party after his expulsion two years ago for running as an independent in the city's first mayoral elections.

Mr Livingstone hopes to be eligible to stand as the Labour candidate in the next elections, in two years' time.

I just don't believe this man on whatever he says but of course I'll be fair in my considerations when it comes before the executive

John Prescott

Recent controversy about his alleged involvement in a drunken party scuffle has been described as a "bit of froth" which would not affect his chances.

Mr Livingstone's eventual victory in the first London mayoral elections in May 2000 followed a bitter battle within the Labour Party, which culminated in his expulsion.

Such expulsion usually runs for five years, but it is thought the party's national executive committee may agree to waive the rules in Mr Livingstone's case.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - who is a member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) - indicated that Mr Livingstone would face an uphill struggle in his bid to rejoin the party.

"If he comes along we'll consider that like many others but he has to be treated the same," Mr Prescott told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme.

"I just don't believe this man on whatever he says but of course I'll be fair in my considerations when it comes before the executive."

Playing ball?

Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the London Assembly, said that if he wanted to rejoin Labour then Mr Livingstone would have to learn to be a "team player".

"He didn't do that before," he told BBC Radio 4's World this Weekend programme.

"I think he would have to persuade all the rest of us who do operate as team players whatever our instincts and whatever our personal views, that that's what he's decided to do."

Labour's chairman Charles Clarke met London MPs last week to discuss how the party should select its mayoral candidate this time around.

Some said they remained opposed to Mr Livingstone's return, arguing that he would be incapable of maintaining party discipline.

Others, such as Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon in north London, said Mr Livingstone had proved he could work effectively with the party.

Livingstone and Labour

Party member for 31 years Expelled in 2000 after standing against official party candidate Expulsions usually last five years It has been hinted the rules could be waived Next elections 2004

"I think inevitably there are going to be people in the party who wouldn't have Ken Livingstone back at any price," said Mr Dismore.

"But I think the majority of members in London would like to see Ken back.

"I think there's a feeling that Ken wasn't fairly treated over the mayoral selection last time and if Ken is back then I hope we would allow him to put his name forward for a fair selection procedure for the mayoralty nomination next time".

In the last election, the Labour party's official candidate Frank Dobson came third place, a long way behind both Mr Livingstone and Tory candidate Steve Norris.

Senior party members are said to want Ken Livingstone to return to the fold to avoid such a humiliation happening a second time.

"There's little merit in trying to split the vote between Ken, who's essentially running London along Labour lines, and another candidate on behalf of the Labour Party... that could ultimately run the risk of allowing a Conservative to come through the middle," said Mr Dismore.

Before his suspension, the former Brent East MP had been a member of the Labour party for 31 years.