Left wing groups have already been mobilising around this issue. It raises dilemmas about whether the radical road can be through the Labour Party.
One of the issues is the tension inherent in the constitutional devolution that the Labour Party has brought in. In Wales the nominee of Tony Blair has just had to resign in favour of Rhodri Morgan who is seen as more independent of Blair.
The opposition to Blair is now seen as coming from the left.
The new post of Mayor of London has raised problems for both Labour and the Conservatives of how to choose a popular candidate who is still under the control of the party, efficient, and electable.
The most specific issue is how the new Mayor would raise money for the refurbishment of the London Underground.
Dobson has just won a very narrow margin as Labour candidate for Mayor in an electoral college which is widely suspected of being set up to help him win. Livingstone has left himself open to calls to stand as an independent. Opinion polls may show in the next few days he could win against both Frank Dobson and the Conservative candidate.
Opinion polls are the new democracy, as they are in the US primary system.
Chris Burford
London