A legal attempt to force the British Labour party to lift its ban on Northern Ireland members has taken a step closer.
The British Commission for Racial Equality has referred a case against the party to lawyers following an application from Belfast-based trade unionist Andy McGivern.
The GMB trade unionist said: "The legal committee of the Commission for Racial Equality believes there is a case for the Labour Party to answer.
"It has passed it on to counsel who will make a final decision on whether to proceed with the case in the new year.
"Obviously I welcome the decision of the legal committee, but again I stress that I am taking this legal action with a heavy heart.
"I don't want to have to take the party, I want to be a member of, to court over its ban on Northern Ireland members. All I want is to be able to be a member in Northern Ireland". Trade unionists and left-wing activists have for years tried to persuade Labour to drop its ban on people in Northern Ireland.
Labour has traditionally cited its links with the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland as its main reason for refusing to allow people from the province to join.