Ken Livingstone quits Labour Party
LEFT-WING veteran Ken Livingstone dramatically quit the Labour Party last night – two years after being suspended for comments branded anti-Semitic.
Critics welcomed the news but accused the party leadership of lacking the nerve to kick him out and warned he could return. The former London mayor and one-time MP denied anti-Jewish prejudice, but said the row had become “a distraction”.
He said: “The ongoing issues around my suspension from the Labour Party have become a distraction from the key political issue of our time, which is to replace a Tory government overseeing falling living standards and spiralling poverty.
“I am loyal to the Labour Party and to Jeremy Corbyn. However any further disciplinary action against me may drag on for months or even years, distracting attention from Jeremy’s policies.
“I am, therefore, with great sadness, leaving the Labour Party.” He faced a Labour inquiry in July into whether he should be readmitted.
He was suspended in 2016 for saying in the 1930s “Hitler supported Zionism” – the movement to create a Jewish state – “before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews”. He has continued to defend his comments.
Last night he declared: “I do not accept the allegation that I have brought the Labour Party into disrepute, nor that I am in any way guilty of anti-Semitism.
“I abhor anti-Semitism, I have fought it all my life and will continue to do so.
“I also recognise the way I made a historical argument has caused offence and upset in the Jewish community. I am truly sorry for that.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said last night: “Ken Livingstone’s resignation is sad after such a long and vital contribution to London and progressive politics, but was the right thing to do.”
Mr Corbyn was under pressure from MPs and Jewish leaders to sack his friend as a token of his sincerity about tackling anti-Semitism in the party’s ranks.
Many are frustrated Mr Livingstone spared Mr Corbyn from making the decision. Labour MP Wes Streeting said: “His exit is welcome but he should have been expelled. We must make it clear he will never be welcomed to return.”
There were also claims Mr Livingstone “jumped before he was pushed”, which he denied. Recently there were signs Mr Corbyn’s inner circle was losing patience, when Baroness Chakrabarti – who wrote a report many thought underplayed the scale of anti-Semitism in Labour – said he had “shamed” the party and should go.
Tory MP and party deputy chairman James Cleverly tweeted: “After all his talk of tackling anti-Semitism, Jeremy Corbyn couldn’t even bring himself to sack Ken Livingstone.” But Labour MP Chris Williamson tweeted: “Ken Livingstone remains a towering figure of the Labour movement.”