Mayoral bid runs into Tube trouble

The future of London's creaking underground railway system has derailed the Labour Party's selection for a candidate as the city's mayor.

This week the party was to decide on who would be its choice for the newly established post that will have the largest individual franchise of any politician in Europe.

But an argument over how to fund the capital's increasingly decrepit Tube has revealed wide gaps in the ruling Labour Party.

Left-wing MP Ken Livingstone has put himself forward as a candidate with proposals based on those used in New York to re-invigorate the city's subway system.

Mr Livingstone plans to issue bonds to create private financing for new investment in a system that is more famous for breaking down than carrying passengers.

But the Labour MP's proposals are contrary to the Government's system of inviting a public-private partnership which would see parts of the more than 100-year-old rail network put into private ownership.

His ideas have gained credence with rail workers nervous of losing their jobs and with a public dissatisfied with the safety of the recently privatised national railway.

A 13-strong Labour selection panel was due on Tuesday to have drawn up a shortlist of candidates to be presented to party members as possible candidates.

But early yesterday it was announced that the panel had adjourned without making a decision because of concerns about the future of the underground system.

Clive Soley, chairman of the parliamentary Labour Party, said that during the panel's deliberations it had become apparent there were some aspects they needed to clarify including Mr Livingstone's opposition to partially privatising the Tube.

Mr Soley said it was the board's responsibility to ensure all candidates were committed to Labour's policies and programmes.

The three other Labour candidates include ex-health minister Frank Dobson and Glenda Jackson, a former Oscar-winning actress who has served as junior transport minister, and businessman Ken Baldry.