A union barred from taking part in the governing Labour party's nomination process for London mayor has failed in a court bid to get the decision overturned.

The Labour party had argued that as the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union, the MSF, had failed to pay their subscriptions to the party on time, they couldn't participate in the process.

But the MSF said they'd paid their dues late for many years without any sanction.

The judge ruled, however, that no organisation or individual had a right to participate in the selection process and that it was up to the party to decide how to choose its candidate. London Labour party members are currently choosing between three candidates - Ken Livingstone, Glenda Jackson and Frank Dobson - and the MSF believe their suspension is designed to weaken Mr Livingstone's chances who the Labour leadership opposes.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service