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Ken Livingstone refuses to apologise for 'mental health' comment about shadow minister Ken Livingstone makes 'unreserved' apology for 'psychiatric help' comment
(about 1 hour later)
Ken Livingstone has refused to apologise for comments about a shadow defence minister despite Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urging him to do so. Ken Livingstone has "unreservedly" apologised for suggesting a shadow defence minister who criticised him needed "psychiatric help".
Mr Livingstone told the Mirror Kevan Jones - who has suffered with depression - needed "psychiatric help". Kevan Jones - who has suffered with depression - said the comments were "gravely offensive".
Mr Jones called the comments "gravely offensive", and Mr Livingstone faced a backlash from a number of Labour MPs. Mr Livingstone initially refused to apologise despite being urged to do so by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had just given him a new policy role.
Shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle is reportedly "furious" about his appointment to Labour's defence team. But he has now tweeted that the comments should not have been made.
Mr Livingstone, the ex-London mayor, has been put in joint charge with Ms Eagle of the party's defence review. Mr Corbyn's decision to appoint the former London mayor as joint chair of Labour's defence review sparked an angry backlash from pro-Trident Labour MPs, with shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle reported to be "furious".
Ms Eagle, who was leading the review, is not thought to have been consulted before Mr Livingstone was made her co-chair - the pair hold opposing views on Britain's nuclear weapons.
'Undermined leadership''Undermined leadership'
He told the BBC he "had no idea" about Mr Jones's mental health condition. Junior defence minister Kevan Jones questioned whether Mr Livingstone knew anything about defence, prompting the former mayor to tell the Daily Mirror Mr Jones was "disturbed" and "should see a GP".
Mr Livingstone tweeted his apology after refusing to say sorry during interviews.
"I unreservedly apologise to Kevan Jones for my comments. They should not have been made at all, let alone in this context," he said.
"I also make this apology because Jeremy [Corbyn] is right to insist on a more civil politics and as a party we should take this seriously".
Earlier he told the BBC he "had no idea" about Mr Jones's mental health condition.
Asked whether this was an excuse for his language, he told BBC News: "I grew up in South London where if someone's rude to you, you are rude back."Asked whether this was an excuse for his language, he told BBC News: "I grew up in South London where if someone's rude to you, you are rude back."
He said Mr Jones should first withdraw his criticism, "and then I'll go for a drink with him", adding that Mr Jones had "undermined the leadership" with his remarks.He said Mr Jones should first withdraw his criticism, "and then I'll go for a drink with him", adding that Mr Jones had "undermined the leadership" with his remarks.
In 2012, Mr Jones was praised after speaking in Parliament about his mental health battles and the "difficult" decision to go public.
Mr Corbyn's spokesman said he was "incredibly concerned that people with mental health problems shouldn't be stigmatised".Mr Corbyn's spokesman said he was "incredibly concerned that people with mental health problems shouldn't be stigmatised".
He added: "He has worked with Kevan in the past on this issue and is impressed by his bravery in speaking out on his own mental health issues. Ken should apologise to him straight away."He added: "He has worked with Kevan in the past on this issue and is impressed by his bravery in speaking out on his own mental health issues. Ken should apologise to him straight away."
Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie called on Mr Livingstone to resign, and shadow mental health minister Luciana Berger said "any reasonable person should be appalled" at what he had said.Former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie called on Mr Livingstone to resign, and shadow mental health minister Luciana Berger said "any reasonable person should be appalled" at what he had said.
Trident debateTrident debate
The clash came after Mr Livingstone's appointment highlighted divisions within the party over the future of the UK's nuclear weapons system.The clash came after Mr Livingstone's appointment highlighted divisions within the party over the future of the UK's nuclear weapons system.
Ms Eagle believes Trident should be renewed, while Mr Livingstone is a longstanding critic and would like it to be scrapped. Ms Eagle believes Trident should be renewed, while Mr Livingstone - who declared London a "nuclear free" zone in the 1980s when he was in charge of the GLC - is a longstanding critic and would like it to be scrapped.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Ms Eagle - who was appointed to lead the defence review in September - had not been told in advance of Mr Livingstone's appointment.BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said Ms Eagle - who was appointed to lead the defence review in September - had not been told in advance of Mr Livingstone's appointment.
She said Ms Eagle, who is not considering resigning, is "fuming" that as the first female shadow defence secretary a man has now been appointed to "look after" her.She said Ms Eagle, who is not considering resigning, is "fuming" that as the first female shadow defence secretary a man has now been appointed to "look after" her.
Earlier Mr Jones, who has held the defence brief for seven years, told PoliticsHome the appointment would damage Labour's "credibility" on defence.Earlier Mr Jones, who has held the defence brief for seven years, told PoliticsHome the appointment would damage Labour's "credibility" on defence.
He said: "I'm not sure Ken knows anything about defence.He said: "I'm not sure Ken knows anything about defence.
"It will only damage our credibility amongst those that do and who care about defence.""It will only damage our credibility amongst those that do and who care about defence."
Key issueKey issue
Labour said Mr Livingstone was now a "co-convener" on its policy commission.Labour said Mr Livingstone was now a "co-convener" on its policy commission.
A party source said Ms Eagle and Mr Livingstone - the former Labour MP for Brent East - would oversee the policy review, but stressed Labour policy would be decided by its National Policy Forum.A party source said Ms Eagle and Mr Livingstone - the former Labour MP for Brent East - would oversee the policy review, but stressed Labour policy would be decided by its National Policy Forum.
One key issue to be reviewed by the party is its position on the renewal of Trident - a sea-based nuclear weapons system acquired by the Thatcher government in the early 1980s.
A £20bn like-for-like replacement of Trident was agreed by the last Labour government and its renewal has been supported by the party since.A £20bn like-for-like replacement of Trident was agreed by the last Labour government and its renewal has been supported by the party since.
But Mr Corbyn, who was elected Labour leader on anti-Trident platform, said the party's official position on its renewal will form part of the defence review.But Mr Corbyn, who was elected Labour leader on anti-Trident platform, said the party's official position on its renewal will form part of the defence review.
The government is due to decide whether to renew Trident in 2016.The government is due to decide whether to renew Trident in 2016.
Ms Eagle - who criticised Mr Corbyn for saying he would not fire Britain's nuclear weapons if he were prime minister - has previously said she will attempt to persuade the leader to take her stance in favour of renewal.Ms Eagle - who criticised Mr Corbyn for saying he would not fire Britain's nuclear weapons if he were prime minister - has previously said she will attempt to persuade the leader to take her stance in favour of renewal.
Mr Corbyn has previously admitted that large numbers of Labour MPs favour the like-for-like replacement.Mr Corbyn has previously admitted that large numbers of Labour MPs favour the like-for-like replacement.
However, he has said he hopes to win them over to his view before a key Commons vote over the coming months.However, he has said he hopes to win them over to his view before a key Commons vote over the coming months.
Shoot-to-kill row
In the meantime, the SNP - which wants to scrap Trident - is understood to be planning to stage a debate on Tuesday.In the meantime, the SNP - which wants to scrap Trident - is understood to be planning to stage a debate on Tuesday.
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Labour MPs were being instructed to abstain on the vote - but some were planning to defy Mr Corbyn and vote against the SNP motion.BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Labour MPs were being instructed to abstain on the vote - but some were planning to defy Mr Corbyn and vote against the SNP motion.
Their argument will be that as existing Labour Party policy is to support the renewal of Trident, they should therefore be able to vote against the SNP's motion to scrap it.Their argument will be that as existing Labour Party policy is to support the renewal of Trident, they should therefore be able to vote against the SNP's motion to scrap it.
Mr Livingstone's appointment comes as Labour MP have already expressed anger at Mr Corbyn over his interventions following the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Mr Corbyn told the BBC on Monday he was "not happy" with police operating a shoot-to-kill policy in the event of a terrorist attack in the UK.
His comments led to criticism from some of his own MPs.
Mr Corbyn later said that "any kind of shoot-to-kill policy" posed "clear dangers to us all", but that he supported the use of "whatever proportionate and strictly necessary force is required to save life".
Labour MPs also lined up in the House of Commons to criticise a view expressed by the Stop the War Coalition - until recently chaired by Mr Corbyn - for an article, since deleted, headlined "Paris reaps whirlwind of western support for extremist violence in Middle East".
Mr Corbyn is scheduled to speak at the organisation's Christmas fundraising dinner next month.