'Get Ken' rules may halt Mayor's return to Labour fold

Senior Labour figures opposed to Ken Livingstone's re-entry to the party will seek to kill off his chances for good by proposing new "Get Ken" selection rules for the Mayor of London tomorrow.

A proposal paper drafted for the ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) recommends that a candidate should be in place by this November, a full 18 months before the mayoral election in 2004.

Such a tight timetable would probably scupper Mr Livingstone's chances because it is thought highly unlikely that a peace deal allowing him back into the party could be agreed by this summer.

In a further blow, the paper includes the option of using a controversial electoral college system similar to that which Mr Livingstone claimed was "rigged" against him last time.

As well as sections for trade unions and party members, the electoral college would include a section made up of London MPs, Greater London Assembly candidates and MEPs.

In 2000, Mr Livingstone narrowly lost to Frank Dobson in the Labour selection because the third section voted overwhelmingly against him.

The Mayor will declare his desire to rejoin the Labour Party in a letter to all London MPs, constituency Labour parties and affiliates today. But he stresses that he "would not accept a rigged, undemocratic selection".

The confidential NEC paper, which has been obtained by The Independent, recommends that potential candidates should be forced to nominate themselves by 31 August. A selection board would choose a shortlist by 27 September and a postal ballot held between 4 October and 1 November. The winner would be announced at the end of November.

The paper, which went before the NEC's organisation committee last week, recommends that the electoral college should have each section balloted. This contrasts with 2000, when unions used block votes.

Despite the proposals, the former GLC leader's supporters still believe he has a chance of rejoining the party and many Labour MPs are fighting a rearguard action for a deal.