Banks poised to join mayoral race

Tony Banks, the former sports minister and one-time chairman of the defunct Greater London Council, is poised to enter the race to be the Labour candidate for Mayor of London.

Allies of Mr Banks have urged him to run for the post in 2004 amid speculation that Ken Livingstone will fail to be readmitted to the party on 23 July.

If the Mayor's five-year ban is not lifted and Mr Banks runs, the MP for West Ham would become firm favourite to be Labour's candidate. This would open up the prospect of a bitter battle between Mr Banks and Mr Livingstone, once a close ally on the GLC, who would run as an independent.

Mr Banks' maverick approach would appeal to Labour members and the wider public while his loyalty to Tony Blair would appeal to the Government. Mr Banks said he would make an announcement after Labour's National Executive Committee had met later this month.