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Ken Livingstone suspended by Labour Party in 'anti-Semitism' row | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Ken Livingstone has been suspended by the Labour Party over comments he made while defending an MP at the centre of an anti-Semitism row. | |
The ex-London mayor will be investigated for "bringing the party into disrepute". | |
Labour MP John Mann, who accused Mr Livingstone of being a "Nazi apologist" in a confrontation outside a BBC studio, faces a reprimand. | |
Mr Mann had been referring to comments Mr Livingstone made about Adolf Hitler. | |
"The Chief Whip has summoned John Mann MP to discuss his conduct," Labour said in a statement. | |
The row was prompted by the suspension of Labour MP Naz Shah over comments she made about Israel on social media. | |
Mr Livingstone was accused by Labour MP John Mann of being a "Nazi apologist" in front of a media scrum as he arrived at Westminster's media studios. | |
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." | 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." | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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." | |
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. | 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." |