The Scotsman

Ken Livingston­e quits Labour Party amid anti-semitism row

- By ANGUS HOWARTH

0 Ken Livingston­e suspended from the Labour party in 2016 Ken Livingston­e has resigned from the Labour Party, saying the issues around his suspension for anti-semitism had become a “distractio­n”.

In a statement, the former London mayor, who was suspended in 2016 for claiming Hitler supported Zionism in the 1930s, said he was leaving with “great sadness”.

He said that he continued to reject the allegation that he had brought the party into disrepute and insisted he was in no way guilty of antisemiti­sm.

“After much considerat­ion, I have decided to resign from the Labour Party,” 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, while starving our schools and the NHS of the vital resources they need.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “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.” While Mr

Livingston­e rejected the charge of antisemiti­sm, he acknowledg­ed some of his comments had caused offence in the Jewish community, for which he was “truly sorry”.

“I abhor anti-semitism, I have fought it all my life and will continue to do so,” he said.

“I also recognise that the way I made a historical argument has caused offence and upset in the Jewish community. I am truly sorry for that.”

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