Former Militant politician Derek Hatton claims to have rejoined Labour party 33 years after expulsion

The ex-deputy leader of Liverpool City Council was kicked out of Labour by Neil Kinnock

Hard-left former politician Derek Hatton claims he has rejoined Labour, more than 30 years after he was expelled from the party.

The former deputy leader of Liverpool City Council was kicked out of Labour by Neil Kinnock for belonging to the left-wing Militant faction, and for overseeing an illegal “deficit” budget in protest at Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government.

The Independent understands no decision has been made about Mr Hatton’s membership, but there is nothing in the party rulebook that would stand in the way of him becoming a member.

It comes after shadow cabinet member Dawn Butler sparked a row at this year’s Labour conference in Liverpool, by praising the hard-left group’s actions, and saying it was “better to break the law than break the poor”.

Mr Hatton caused controversy in the 1980s by setting an illegal budget, and clashed with the Labour leadership over stunts such as sending redundancy notices by taxi to thousands of council workers.

The 70-year-old has said he was inspired by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership to reapply for membership. His attempt to join in 2015 was objected to by the party’s general secretary, Iain McNicol.

Writing in the Liverpool Echo, Mr Hatton said he has spent much of the last 33 years at odds with the Labour leadership, particular over Tony Blair’s decision to invade Iraq.

However, he said he had remained committed to the party throughout and the recent Labour conference had prompted him to rejoin.

Mr Hatton wrote: “In all my time I have never witnessed such passion, such energy and such powerful socialist leadership. And strangely, that power is despite a kinder, gentler form of politics.

“Many people, myself included, probably never thought we would witness an unswerving socialist like Jeremy Corbyn at the helm.

“He stands there with a set of policies clearly aimed at benefiting the vast majority of people in this country, and a strategy which will not be dictated to, or influenced by, the five billionaires who own 90% of the country’s media.”

He added: “Now I’m a ‘Labour Party member’ I believe nothing should take our eye off the ball of securing a Labour government under Corbyn.”

Mr Hatton said he had no plans to run for public office on returning to the party.

Asked about his membership later by the BBC, he said: “I am a member, I have it in writing.”

A Labour spokesman said: “We don’t comment on individual memberships.”