Mr Ken Livingstone was suspended from the Labour Party last night after announcing his decision to defy the leadership and run as an independent candidate for mayor of London. The party general secretary, Ms Margaret McDonagh, wrote to the MP saying she was using delegated powers under the party's constitution to suspend his membership pending a full inquiry.
"In the meantime, my decision means that you will not be allowed to represent the Labour Party at any level nor be in receipt of the Labour whip," she wrote. Her decision has to be endorsed by the party's national executive.