Livingstone: Blair will decide re-entry

Ken Livingstone wants to return to the Labour Party

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, expelled from Labour after running against it in the capital's mayoral poll in May, has insisted it is only matter of time before the party readmits him.

The mayor said his re-entry into the Labour fold was a matter for Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"It is up to him to decide when and if he wants me back because I am not going to keep running around submitting applications as some sort of photo opportunity," Mr Livingstone told the BBC's On the Record programme.

Mayor Livingstone opposes any Tube sell-off

"I would like to be back, I will be working for the Labour Party at the election next year whether I am in the party or not.

"As you can imagine I am in regular contact with party officials and government ministers. There will be a time when it is right."

Canavan precedent?

Mr Livingstone ran for mayor as an independent against Labour's official candidate, Frank Dobson, despite having repeatedly pledged he would not do so.

At the time he said London voters would judge his U-turn against the way Labour 's controversial electoral college ensured the party's mayoral nomination went to Frank Dobson - despite more members having voted for Mr Livingstone.

Mr Livingstone eventually not only won the London mayoral election; he pushed Labour into a humiliating third place.

The mayor pointed to the recent indications that Dennis Canavan, the Falkirk West MP expelled from Labour after standing independently - and winning - in the Scottish Parliament elections last year, might be allowed back in the party as a good sign for his own parallel situation.

Livingstone has clashed with government over his choice of Tube supremo

The left-winger also denied that there was a serious rift between him and the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott over the future of London Underground.

Tube sell-off clashes The pair have repeatedly clashed over the mayor's proposed appointment of Robert Kiley as Tube commissioner, the government's planned sell-off of the network and a proposed early closedown of most stations on new year's eve.

Despite the bitter rows, evident publicly and confirmed privately by sources on both sides, the mayor insisted their relationship had often been "misinterpreted" by the media and that they shared many common viewpoints.

He highlighted a transport meeting on Friday: "We both put the same points to the rail operators. We were both in agreement."

Mr Livingstone stressed he would continue his "good working relationship" with ministers as he campaigned against their proposals for a "public-private partnership" for the Tube.

The Brent East MP, who before becoming mayor called more than once for the resignation of Chancellor Gordon Brown, also sought to demonstrate a conciliatory approach by absolving Labour ministers of blame for the Millennium Dome fiasco, calling the project "unsalvable".

Mr Livingstone denied his supportive tone was intended to pave the way for his return to the party.

"I have always been moderate and restrained, just not so many journalists noticed," he said.