Fresh review ordered in Ken Livingstone Hitler row

Kate Proctor6 April 2017
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Jeremy Corbyn today broke his silence on Ken Livingstone’s disciplinary hearing by ordering a fresh review into the Hitler row.

The Labour leader said the latest remarks the ex-London mayor has made on Hitler and Zionism will now be considered by the party’s National Executive Committee.

He pointed the finger at his long-time acquaintance, saying he had so far failed to apologise for the “hurt he has caused”.

This new review will focus on comments Mr Livingstone made about Nazis and Jews collaborating before the Second World War while he was suspended from the party.

In recent days he repeated several of his controversial remarks to reporters.

Today Mr Corbyn said: “Ken Livingstone’s comments have been grossly insensitive, and he has caused deep offence and hurt to the Jewish community.

“Labour’s independently elected National Constitutional Committee has found Ken guilty of bringing the party into disrepute and suspended him for two years.

Criticism: Jeremy Corbyn
Getty Images

“It is deeply disappointing that, despite his long record of standing up to racism, Ken has failed to acknowledge or apologise for the hurt he has caused.

“Many people are understandably upset that he has continued to make offensive remarks which could open him to further disciplinary action.

“Since initiating the disciplinary process, I have not interfered with it and respect the independence of the party’s disciplinary bodies. But Ken’s subsequent comments and actions will now be considered by the National Executive Committee after representations from party members.”

Ken Livingstone was suspended from the party last April over his controversial comments surrounding Adolf Hitler
Lauren Hurley/PA

The NEC meets separately to the National Constitutional Committee which made the decision to suspend - and not expel - Mr Livingstone after finding him guilty of three party breaches for linking Hitler and Zionism.

He was handed a two year suspension but having served a 12 month ban already, he has another year to go before he can fully rejoin the party.

Mr Corbyn’s announcement came just hours after Tulip Siddiq called for an emergency review of the Labour committee’s decision.

The representative for Hampstead & Kilburn said: “I feel appalled that Ken Livingstone has not been expelled.”

In a letter to Jeremy Corbyn, Ms Siddiq said the decision has brought “great shame on the party” and demanded that he order an emergency meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee to review the ruling.

Earlier today Richard Angell, director of Labour organisation Progress, said: “I have never felt more ashamed to be a member of the Labour Party.”

He said the decision failed the whole party in its duty to make Labour a safe place for Jewish people.

Today Mr Livingstone has launched a campaign called “reinstate Ken” and said the disciplinary process was not “natural justice”.

The hearing held in Central London did not relate to anti-Semitism but that by linking Hilter and Zionism he had brought the party into disrepute.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in