LABOUR Party bosses have lifted the suspension on Leigh MP hopeful Mark Hale, writes Malcolm Ryding

A meeting of the National Executive made the decison with immediate effect when they met at a pre-Labour Party conference session.

And yesterrday Cllr Hale, who represents Hope Carr Ward, welcomed the decision.

"I am happy the administrative suspension has been lifted so that I can resume my position in the Labour Group.

"I am also happy to re-take my Constituency roles."

Cllr Hale had been under membership suspension from the party since the beginning of the year following revelations of mis-use of Wigan Council provided lap-top computers by him and those at the homes of three other councillors - Barry Hampson (Abram), Rona Winkworth (Winstanley) and Barbara Bourne (Norley).

Wigan Council imposed a 12-month Internet access restriction on Cllr Hale in January.

But the Labour Party instigated a top-level probe which delayed selection of a candidate to fight the next General Election following the retirement of MP Lawrence Cunliffe from the safe Labour seat.

And locally the Labour Group initiated a probe into who tipped-off The Journal with details of the computer story. This was initially headed-up by chief whip Fred Walker, and Cllrs George Walsh and John Lea.

The selection procedure should have been over in April. But now up to EIGHTY Labour activists are expected to join the selection bid. They include local youth worker Julie Hilling, Government adviser Andy Burnham, Chris Matheson, Cllrs Keith Cunliffe and Alan Stephenson, and London barrister Andrew Judge.

Leigh is one of only two rock-safe Labour-held General Election seats which still does not have a candidate in the normal selection process. The other is Birmingham Perry Bar - although Redcar needs a replacement for Mo Mowlem, Preston for the late Audrey Wise, and West Bromwich for the Speaker, Betty Boothroyd.

Cllr Hale, who has always had the support of Hope Carr and Leigh Central Ward members - together with the GMBU - maintained his suspension was imposed to allow Labour Millbank HQ to impose their own candidate.

Cllr Hale will now re-take the Labour whip on the council and be interviewed by a regional parliamentary selection panel after the Party conference before a decison is re-taken on his suitability to remain a Labour candidate.

Once that has happened the selection timetable will fall into place.