Labour enmity that could return to haunt the Mayor

When Trevor Phillips first criticised Ken Livingstone during the bitter struggle to be Labour's candidate for Mayor exactly three years ago, the former leader of the Greater London Council was withering in his response.

"I'm reminded of that wonderful saying of the Masai warriors, 'The elephant never notices when the gnat bites its bum'," Mr Livingstone said. Now Mr Phillips, the chairman of the London Assembly, has called a meeting that could determine the Mayor's future, it may be that the "gnat" has the last laugh.

Almost as soon as the Government unveiled its plans for an elected mayor for the capital just after the 1997 general election, Mr Phillips and Mr Livingstone were among the names touted as Labour's candidates.

But as their growing mutual hostility since then has shown, the two men could not be more different in their politics or their personalities.

Mr Phillips, a former broadcaster, was quickly tipped as "Downing Street's choice" for the job. Inevitably, the tag did not help him among Labour members, nor did the fact he was a friend of Peter Mandelson.

He dropped out of the race to become Frank Dobson's deputy soon after the former health secretary declared himself a candidate in late 1999. But it was a row about Mr Livingstone's offer to make him his own deputy that triggered the worst spat between the two men. Mr Phillips claimed that the offer was "arrogant, patronising and racist".

He said: "All of us who come from ethnic minority communities get rather used to, and fed up of, any time we emerge on the public scene, people treating us as apprentices."

Mr Livingstone retorted with his Masai warrior quote, adding: "I hope Trevor's feeling better soon." His aides made it clear he was offering the deputy role because Mr Phillips was New Labour, not because he was black.

The pair have clashed repeatedly since Mr Phillips became Assembly chairman, although many Labour members say Mr Livingstone should be allowed back into the party.

Mr Phillips' allies still believe he has a strong chance of becoming Labour's candidate for 2004. If he is, then the gloves really will come off.