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Kick Livingstone out of Labour over 'anti-Semitism' row - Sadiq Khan | Kick Livingstone out of Labour over 'anti-Semitism' row - Sadiq Khan |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ken Livingstone should be "kicked out" of the Labour Party for defending an MP suspended over "anti-Semitic" comments, Sadiq Khan has said. | Ken Livingstone should be "kicked out" of the Labour Party for defending an MP suspended over "anti-Semitic" comments, Sadiq Khan has said. |
The London mayoral contender joined a growing chorus of Labour MPs calling for Mr Livingstone's expulsion. | The London mayoral contender joined a growing chorus of Labour MPs calling for Mr Livingstone's expulsion. |
But Mr Livingstone stood by his comments and said MP Naz Shah was not anti-Semitic. | |
He warned against "confusing criticism of Israeli government policy with anti-Semitism". | He warned against "confusing criticism of Israeli government policy with anti-Semitism". |
The former London mayor was accused by Labour MP John Mann of being a "Nazi apologist" as he arrived at the BBC's Westminster studios. | The former London mayor was accused by Labour MP John Mann of being a "Nazi apologist" as he arrived at the BBC's Westminster studios. |
'Monster' | |
Asked about the confrontation on the BBC's Daily Politics, Mr Livingstone said: "He went completely over the top... I have had that with John Mann before." | |
But Mr Mann stood by his remarks, saying: "He is a Nazi apologist." | |
Referring to comments Mr Livingstone had made about Adolf Hitler's alleged plan to deport Jewish people to what was then Palestine in 1932, he accused the ex-London mayor of anti-Semitism and called for him to be suspended from the party. | |
Mr Livingstone said he was not suggesting Hitler was a Zionist, saying the Nazi leader was "a monster from start to finish", but he said he had simply been quoting historical "facts". | |
The row stems from an interview Mr Livingstone gave to BBC London, in which he said he had never heard anyone in the Labour Party say anything anti-Semitic. | |
Then he added: "Let's remember, when Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. | |
"He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews." | |
Naz Shah was suspended by the Labour Party, pending an investigation, over comments she made on Facebook before she became an MP, including a suggestion that Israel should be moved to the United States. | |
She has apologised for the comments - but it has sparked fresh claims from senior Labour figures that the party is not doing enough to tackle growing anti-Semitism in its ranks. | She has apologised for the comments - but it has sparked fresh claims from senior Labour figures that the party is not doing enough to tackle growing anti-Semitism in its ranks. |
Shadow Commons leader Chris Bryant told MPs: "I'm sick and tired of people trying to explain it away and yes, I'm talking to you Ken Livingstone." | Shadow Commons leader Chris Bryant told MPs: "I'm sick and tired of people trying to explain it away and yes, I'm talking to you Ken Livingstone." |
Asked if Mr Livingstone should be suspended from the party, shadow mental health minister Luciana Berger replied "yes". | Asked if Mr Livingstone should be suspended from the party, shadow mental health minister Luciana Berger replied "yes". |
Labour's mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan said: "Ken Livingstone's comments are appalling and inexcusable. There must be no place for this in our party." | Labour's mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan said: "Ken Livingstone's comments are appalling and inexcusable. There must be no place for this in our party." |
Explaining his stance, in a BBC News Channel interview, Mr Livingstone said: "Naz is not anti-Semitic - she was completely over the top, what she said was rude, but I literally, during the 47 years I've been in the Labour Party, I've never heard anyone say anything anti-Semitic. | |
"I've heard a lot of people being critical of Israel, but if I was to denounce the South African government, you wouldn't say I was racist. | "I've heard a lot of people being critical of Israel, but if I was to denounce the South African government, you wouldn't say I was racist. |
"And one of my worries is this confusion with anti-Semitism and criticising the Israeli government policy undermines the importance is tackling real anti-Semitism." | "And one of my worries is this confusion with anti-Semitism and criticising the Israeli government policy undermines the importance is tackling real anti-Semitism." |