EXCL Derek Hatton still waiting for Labour membership six months after applying
2 min read
Derek Hatton has still not regained his Labour membership despite applying for it six months ago, PoliticsHome has learned.
The former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council was kicked out in 1986 for being a member of hard-left faction Militant.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Mr Hatton suggested he had been welcomed back into the Labour fold after being inspired by Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
But PoliticsHome has learned that the larger-than-life figure has still not been cleared to rejoin by party bosses, despite applying in March following Corbyn ally Jennie Formby's appointment as Labour general secretary.
On the same day, Militant also applied to affiliate to the Labour party.
Under Labour rules, Ms Formby and Mr Hatton's local party branch had eight weeks to lodge any objections they had to Mr Hatton's application.
It is understood that they have not done so, but his application still needs to be signed off by a meeting of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee because he was previously expelled.
A previous attempt by Mr Hatton to rejoin the party two years ago fell through after then general secretary Iain McNicol blocked it.
A Labour spokesperson said: "We don't comment on individual memberships."
Party sources confirmed Mr Hatton is still not a party member, but stressed there was nothing in its rules to stop him rejoining.
Shadow equalities minister Dawn Butler caused controversy at the Labour conference by appearing to praise the actions of Militant in a speech.
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