Independence day

Labour will decide today whether to accept Ken Livingstone's application to return to the party he abandoned to win election as Mayor of London. But why would Labour want its erstwhile enfant terrible back in the fold? And, indeed, why would Mr Livingstone wish to return to the party that worked so tirelessly to withhold from him its imprimatur as its candidate for the mayoralty? The answer is, of course, the same in both cases: electoral convenience. Labour and Mr Livingstone both want to win the next London mayoral election, due to be held in May 2004, and joining forces once more would strengthen both their chances. But Mr Livingstone has proved to be a disappointment as Mayor, and Labour is better off without him. There is still time for Mr Livingstone to prove his worth to Londoners, but he should do so by his actions, not by cynically joining a party that has left him behind.