London - The left-wing Labour MP Mr Ken Livingstone last night denied a report that he would leave the Labour Party if the party blocked his attempt to seek nomination for mayor of London, Rachel Donnelly writes. A report in yesterday's London Times said Mr Livingstone was prepared to stand as an independent if Mr Blair moved to block his nomination as Labour's candidate in the election.
However, Mr Livingstone dismissed the report, saying: "I am staying in the Labour Party, I am dying in the Labour Party. I do not believe they are going to rig the election against me."