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Derek Hatton has applied to rejoin the Labour Party – nearly 30 years after being booted out of it for his alleged links to Militant.

But the 67-year-old stresses he has no plans to stand for positions of power – as a councillor, MP or Mayor of Liverpool.

Explaining why he applied to rejoin the party that expelled him in 1986, Hatton told the ECHO: “People have been calling for the Labour Party to cut its links with the trade unions and I thought ‘I would never forgive myself if I didn’t involve myself and support these traditional links’.

“People say it’s a different world and it is – the world is different, Liverpool is different and Derek Hatton is different, but certain fundamental principles should never die. The Labour Party was founded by the trade union movement and no one should pretend it wasn’t.”

Hatton felt moved to rejoin the party the day after its general election defeat, and did so online. He explained: “I have applied and been accepted. I got emails from Ed Miliband and then Harriet Harman – standard letters – saying ‘Welcome’.”

However the party today appeared to cast doubt on his membership, with a spokeswoman saying: “The general secretary of the Labour Party has objected to this application to join.”

Despite having been such a high-profile and controversial character in the party, Hatton, when asked about a potentially negative reaction in some quarters, said: “Would anyone really care?”

He added: “It asked on the form if I had ever been a member and I said ‘Yes’, and it asked when I was last a member and I said ‘1986’.”

Hatton confirmed the details of his leaving the party were not covered by the form, and insisted: “The fact of the matter is I applied and was accepted – end of story.

“I just want to be a party member. There will be all sorts of things said and the Press will be on the phone asking ‘Are you doing this or that?’ But at this stage I have no intention whatsoever of going back. I am 67 and it’s a young person’s world. I have no intention of being a main player. I have not joined to stand as a politician, I am just giving my opinion.”

Of his politics today, he said: “It’s hard to define things, but, of course, I am on the left of the Labour Party, though not in the way I was in the ‘80s, because the world was very different then and the issues were very different.”

Hatton on... Labour’s election defeat

“I was surprised because of the way the polls were going. But when I saw the exit poll and thought about it I wasn’t surprised. I don’t think people were given a clear alternative. The reason the SNP won in Scotland is because they campaigned on issues people were attracted to – like anti-austerity and no Trident. People understood this like they understood our campaign for housing and jobs in the ‘80s. The Labour Party today don’t get what’s happening on the street, and they’re not campaigning enough on that.”

Hatton on... Ed Miliband

“I’ve never met him but people who have met him, and who I know, have told me he was amazingly charismatic in a small room and had lots to offer, but unfortunately he didn’t come over that way. And however nice a fella he is, he’s part of that gang of politicians – Labour and Tory – who have the same background, wear the same suits and the same ties, had the same education and who, mostly, have never worked outside politics.”

Hatton on ... Andy Burnham

“He’s a great Evertonian. I’m not getting into who should or shouldn’t be the next leader of the Labour Party. It’s early days and I’m not getting into that. But regarding the deputy leadership, I have been very impressed with Tom Watson – he’s a real fighter. One of the things I can say is I think it would be a disaster if someone like Liz Kendall (who is seen as a Blairite contender) became leader. That would spell the end of the Labour Party.”

Hatton on ... being in the same party as former rivals like Neil Kinnock

“The Labour Party has always had a mixed gang of people and that will always be the case. And what happened (Kinnock denouncing Hatton and being involved in his expulsion from the party) was a long time ago.”

Hatton on... Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson

“I have always been a big supporter of Joe Anderson.”