Labour 'will contest NI polls'

It is inevitable that Labour Party members in Northern Ireland will field candidates in elections there, deputy leadership candidate of the British Labour Party Alan Johnson insisted tonight.

As he prepared to address a dinner in Belfast commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first ever Labour Party conference which took place in the city, Mr Johnson welcomed the setting up of a forum in the North to enable party members in Belfast and other areas to take part in decision-making bodies and conferences.