Ken 'will get fewer votes with Labour'

Ken Livingstone risks losing votes if he fights next year's mayoral election as Labour's official candidate, a poll suggested today.

The Populus survey was commissioned for Tory candidate Steve Norris only days before a key Labour committee is expected to pave the way for the Mayor to rejoin party ranks. He was expelled three years ago when he stood as an independent candidate.

The poll claimed that 23 per cent of Mr Livingstone's supporters would be "less likely" to vote for him if he came back to Labour. It showed the gap closing between Mr Livingstoneon 47 per cent, and Mr Norris, on 38 per cent. The Mayor is not likely to be worried by the findings, however, because they are so closely linked to his chief rival.

This week Labour's organisation committee, an offshoot of its ruling NEC, is expected to make the recommendation that Mr Livingstone should be readmitted. He would then be free to stand as the party's candidate once Nicky Gavron agrees to stand down in return for a guarantee she would become his deputy.