London mayor Mr Ken Livingstone is expected to be readmitted to the Labour Party tomorrow to pave the way for the maverick politician to stand as Labour candidate in the next mayoral election.
The leftist member of parliament was expelled from the party in 2000 when he chose to run as an independent against the party's official candidate in the London elections.
But "Red Ken" dealt an embarrassing blow to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, when he easily defeated the Labour candidate and secured a resounding victory.
Mr Livingstone was rejected as the Labour candidate due to his leftist leanings, and Mr Blair had said he would scare away middle class voters.
Labour's national executive committee, who voted overwhelmingly in December to pave the way for the readmission, will meet tomorrow to give their final vote.
Mr Livingstone was initially banned from the party until 2005, so the deal requires the approval of party bosses. The next mayoral election is due in June, 2004.
Labour's official candidate, Mr Nicky Gavron, has agreed to step aside and become the mayor's deputy, giving Mr Livingstone a clear run at a second term.
One of Britain's best-known politicians, he had been a member of the Labour Party for more than 30 years before he was ousted.
He has since become a regular and vociferous critic of Mr Blair's government, especially its involvement in the Iraq war.