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Labour antisemitism crisis: party deals with fallout of Livingstone suspension – live Labour antisemitism crisis: party deals with fallout of Livingstone suspension – live
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Ukip will keep speaking out, even if they are not part of the Vote Leave campaign, he says.
For background, Vote Leave won the electoral commission designation to be the lead campaign, which comes with significant extra spending limits and rights, over the Leave.EU-backed group Grassroots Out, supported by Farage and most of Ukip.
Farage says some on the Leave campaign are not making the immigration case for Brexit because many of them come from “rich and privileged backgrounds who rarely ever dare stray outside the M25”.
This is a strange charge for Farage to level, as Huffington Post’s Owen Bennett points out.
Privately educated former city trader @Nigel_Farage attacking ppl from 'privileged and wealthy backgrounds'. Well I suppose he knows them.
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Vote Leave rejecting my help - Farage
The Leave campaign has to “get into the other half of the pitch”, Farage says. Migration is the key argument to make he says, and the security and terror threat.
Vote Leave, the official designated campaign, are not making that case, he says.
They don’t appear to have the credible voices to make those arguments. I
If you’ve been part of the cabinet that has seen net migration running at record levels, you’re not best placed to make those arguments.
I tried hard over the course of the weekends to say, we must let bygones be bygones, we want Ukip to work with you.
I’m sorry to say that every time I try to work with them I am rebuffed and rejected.
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Farage says the UK will be better off outside the single market, saying food, cars will all be cheaper.
Even if there is no deal with the EU, he says, “the worst case scenario” the total amount of tariffs only equals two-thirds of the UK contribution to the EU.
The Leave campaign has to be “much more assertive in making the economic case”, he says.
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EU asylum plan will let in extremists - Farage
Nigel Farage, the UKIP leader is giving a keynote speech for the Leave campaign today at the Emmanuel Centre in London.
He says Barack Obama would not have used the word ‘queue’ to say Britain would be at the back of the queue for trade negotiations because Americans say line. He says he was saying the words David Cameron had asked him to say.
He says that the Leave campaign do have experts backing them, naming “Professor Patrick Minford [a former Thatcher advisor] and others.”
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Wes Streeting, the Labour MP who was one of the first to call for Livingstone to be sacked from the party, spoke to the BBC in the past hour.
He called the ex-mayor “a political arsonist who is pouring petrol on a very serious issue.”
"A political arsonist" - @wesstreeting's perfect description of Ken Livingstone pic.twitter.com/bKGZaz89Sw
10.29am BST10.29am BST
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The Jewish Labour movement, an organisation officially affiliated with the party, have tweeted a statement comparing Livingstone’s actions to Bradford MP Naz Shah’s. The group had previously praised her apology, saying she was a brave politician who was on a journey.The Jewish Labour movement, an organisation officially affiliated with the party, have tweeted a statement comparing Livingstone’s actions to Bradford MP Naz Shah’s. The group had previously praised her apology, saying she was a brave politician who was on a journey.
Following on from yesterday we are calling for Ken Livingstone to be swiftly and permanently expelled from Labour. No more second chances.Following on from yesterday we are calling for Ken Livingstone to be swiftly and permanently expelled from Labour. No more second chances.
We believe that Naz Shah is authentic in her apology. Ken Livingstone denies wrongdoing. This is not a one off. He can no longer be excused.We believe that Naz Shah is authentic in her apology. Ken Livingstone denies wrongdoing. This is not a one off. He can no longer be excused.
This was their earlier statement on Shah.This was their earlier statement on Shah.
Welcome statement from Jewish Labour Movement (via @juliamacfarlane). Agree with this https://t.co/N6BzAibEwe pic.twitter.com/vFS69JTxScWelcome statement from Jewish Labour Movement (via @juliamacfarlane). Agree with this https://t.co/N6BzAibEwe pic.twitter.com/vFS69JTxSc
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Lord Sugar, the former Labour peer and party donor, has told BBC 5 live Breakfast Ken Livingstone was “obsessed” with “Hitler, concentration camps and Jews”.Lord Sugar, the former Labour peer and party donor, has told BBC 5 live Breakfast Ken Livingstone was “obsessed” with “Hitler, concentration camps and Jews”.
Lord Sugar: Livingstone's comments "stupid and ignorant"https://t.co/L52LQ9LJq6 pic.twitter.com/mTHFeUWqNBLord Sugar: Livingstone's comments "stupid and ignorant"https://t.co/L52LQ9LJq6 pic.twitter.com/mTHFeUWqNB
“Words fail that the person who once had a senior position as mayor of London and a member of the party could be so stupid and ignorant. I think he’s lost the plot,” he said.“Words fail that the person who once had a senior position as mayor of London and a member of the party could be so stupid and ignorant. I think he’s lost the plot,” he said.
He knew it was going to be provocative. One can only think that he purposefully did it. A sensible, intelligent person doesn’t speak like that.He knew it was going to be provocative. One can only think that he purposefully did it. A sensible, intelligent person doesn’t speak like that.
Sugar, who left Labour last year, said he had no faith that the party would effectively tackle the problem. “They’re all peas in the same pod and they’ll wait for it to blow over and find some way of him slipping back into the Labour fold,” he said.Sugar, who left Labour last year, said he had no faith that the party would effectively tackle the problem. “They’re all peas in the same pod and they’ll wait for it to blow over and find some way of him slipping back into the Labour fold,” he said.
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Ken Livingstone, who said yesterday he wouldn’t be giving any more broadcast interviews, has been out walking his dog in Cricklewood, north London. And not talking to the press.Ken Livingstone, who said yesterday he wouldn’t be giving any more broadcast interviews, has been out walking his dog in Cricklewood, north London. And not talking to the press.
Anyone interested in what he had to say would have to “tune in” to him on LBC on Saturday, he told reporters, according to PA.Anyone interested in what he had to say would have to “tune in” to him on LBC on Saturday, he told reporters, according to PA.
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George Galloway, a close friend of Livingstone, has been on Sky News, where he said the former mayor had “said absolutely nothing wrong. Everything he said was the truth. Historical fact.”George Galloway, a close friend of Livingstone, has been on Sky News, where he said the former mayor had “said absolutely nothing wrong. Everything he said was the truth. Historical fact.”
George Galloway calls Labour anti-Semitism row "an entirely synthetic crisis. Ken Livingstone said nothing wrong" https://t.co/k2ezZlJUg3George Galloway calls Labour anti-Semitism row "an entirely synthetic crisis. Ken Livingstone said nothing wrong" https://t.co/k2ezZlJUg3
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Momentum chair - Time for Livingstone to 'move on' but he should not be sackedMomentum chair - Time for Livingstone to 'move on' but he should not be sacked
Jon Lansman, the left-wing Labour activist who ran Corbyn’s leadership campaign and is now chair of Momentum, has been on the Victoria Derbyshire programme in the last half an hour. On Twitter yesterday, he called for Livingstone to retire from political life.Jon Lansman, the left-wing Labour activist who ran Corbyn’s leadership campaign and is now chair of Momentum, has been on the Victoria Derbyshire programme in the last half an hour. On Twitter yesterday, he called for Livingstone to retire from political life.
He spoke to Joanna Gosling, who asked if Livingstone should be expelled permanently.He spoke to Joanna Gosling, who asked if Livingstone should be expelled permanently.
I didn’t call for him to be suspended, I called for him to retire. The comments were very ill-judged, intemperate, wrong and offensive.I didn’t call for him to be suspended, I called for him to retire. The comments were very ill-judged, intemperate, wrong and offensive.
The trouble is that Ken hasn’t really got a role any more but he’s still someone who is invited in to TV studios. He said some things that were very ill-judged and he needs to recognise it’s time for him to move on.The trouble is that Ken hasn’t really got a role any more but he’s still someone who is invited in to TV studios. He said some things that were very ill-judged and he needs to recognise it’s time for him to move on.
Lansman said the comments by John Mann, that Livingstone was a “Nazi apologist” were “as silly as anything Ken said”. But he said he took great issue with the idea that Hitler had been a Zionist “before he went mad” as Ken put it.Lansman said the comments by John Mann, that Livingstone was a “Nazi apologist” were “as silly as anything Ken said”. But he said he took great issue with the idea that Hitler had been a Zionist “before he went mad” as Ken put it.
Hitler was always deeply anti-semitic, and so I don’t agree with Ken. I don’t think it’s a matter of Hitler going mad. But we also need to recognise that Ken is not an anti-semite or not a Nazi apologist. He did many good things for London.Hitler was always deeply anti-semitic, and so I don’t agree with Ken. I don’t think it’s a matter of Hitler going mad. But we also need to recognise that Ken is not an anti-semite or not a Nazi apologist. He did many good things for London.
Lansman says that Livingstone should not be sacked from the Labour party but should “move on” from the National Executive Committee.Lansman says that Livingstone should not be sacked from the Labour party but should “move on” from the National Executive Committee.
I don’t think Labour has a particular problem with antisemitism. I think society has a problem with anti-semitism. I think there are people with certain interests stoking this row.I don’t think Labour has a particular problem with antisemitism. I think society has a problem with anti-semitism. I think there are people with certain interests stoking this row.
There are people at Conservative head office who have been trawling Twitter feeds and Facebook pages looking for evidence, stored until a week before the local elections.There are people at Conservative head office who have been trawling Twitter feeds and Facebook pages looking for evidence, stored until a week before the local elections.
We have very few cases of real anti-semitism, people are exhibiting prejudices. Prejudices are in all of us. We need to acknowledge there is antisemitism in society, in all political parties including the Labour party.We have very few cases of real anti-semitism, people are exhibiting prejudices. Prejudices are in all of us. We need to acknowledge there is antisemitism in society, in all political parties including the Labour party.
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Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader who avoided much of the fray on Thursday, spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier. Corbyn was at a Q&A and a memorial service in Grimsby as calls for Livingstone’s suspension grew.Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader who avoided much of the fray on Thursday, spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme earlier. Corbyn was at a Q&A and a memorial service in Grimsby as calls for Livingstone’s suspension grew.
On Corbyn’s first response to Livingstone’s comments:On Corbyn’s first response to Livingstone’s comments:
I just ask people to take a look at what [Corbyn] actually did yesterday, within hours of Ken Livingstone making those comments.I just ask people to take a look at what [Corbyn] actually did yesterday, within hours of Ken Livingstone making those comments.
It wasn’t easy for Jeremy Corbyn yesterday. Ken Livingstone is a 40-year ally of Jeremy and what he did was act swiftly.It wasn’t easy for Jeremy Corbyn yesterday. Ken Livingstone is a 40-year ally of Jeremy and what he did was act swiftly.
In fact, I don’t think he could have moved any quicker to deal with Ken Livingstone.”In fact, I don’t think he could have moved any quicker to deal with Ken Livingstone.”
On reports that Corbyn’s team had wanted Mann suspended as well:On reports that Corbyn’s team had wanted Mann suspended as well:
What I do know is that when issues like this come up in a party, everyone gives leaders advice, very often contradictory advice and ultimately it’s leaders that make the call.What I do know is that when issues like this come up in a party, everyone gives leaders advice, very often contradictory advice and ultimately it’s leaders that make the call.
Asked about Corbyn’s meetings with members of Hamas when he was a backbench MP:Asked about Corbyn’s meetings with members of Hamas when he was a backbench MP:
When you lead a political party, sometimes you need to take political risks and that might be you talk to people who hold contradictory or offensive views in the pursuit of peace and Jeremy is always going to do that, but if we are in a situation where that creates a perceived culture, or a culture that people are not welcome in the party, then we need to deal with it.When you lead a political party, sometimes you need to take political risks and that might be you talk to people who hold contradictory or offensive views in the pursuit of peace and Jeremy is always going to do that, but if we are in a situation where that creates a perceived culture, or a culture that people are not welcome in the party, then we need to deal with it.
On Jewish Labour party members:On Jewish Labour party members:
Jews have always played an important role in the Labour party, leading in important positions because of the shared values that we have.Jews have always played an important role in the Labour party, leading in important positions because of the shared values that we have.
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Ken Livingstone's suspension from the Labour partyKen Livingstone's suspension from the Labour party
Good morning, we’re following the aftermath of Labour’s chaotic day which resulted in the suspension of former London mayor Ken Livingstone for a day which began with him telling broadcasters Hitler had been a Zionist, and ended with a slanging match between him and MP John Mann, and the ex-mayor hiding in a disabled toilet, with the waiting press outside.Good morning, we’re following the aftermath of Labour’s chaotic day which resulted in the suspension of former London mayor Ken Livingstone for a day which began with him telling broadcasters Hitler had been a Zionist, and ended with a slanging match between him and MP John Mann, and the ex-mayor hiding in a disabled toilet, with the waiting press outside.
Livingstone had original been on BBC London to defend Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who has suspended on Wednesday for antisemitic Facebook posts, for which she apologised.Livingstone had original been on BBC London to defend Bradford West MP Naz Shah, who has suspended on Wednesday for antisemitic Facebook posts, for which she apologised.
Mann, who called Livingstone a “disgrace” as he confronted him outside the Millbank broadcast studios, was called to a meeting with chief whip Rosie Winterton and told his behaviour was unacceptable. A petition, which has more than 5,800 supporters, is calling for the Bassetlaw MP to also be suspended for bringing the party into disrepute.Mann, who called Livingstone a “disgrace” as he confronted him outside the Millbank broadcast studios, was called to a meeting with chief whip Rosie Winterton and told his behaviour was unacceptable. A petition, which has more than 5,800 supporters, is calling for the Bassetlaw MP to also be suspended for bringing the party into disrepute.
On Question Time last night, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said the party had to handle these situations better.On Question Time last night, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said the party had to handle these situations better.
These allegations, when they are surfacing, are not being dealt with properly and quickly enough. They need to be dealt with much more speedily in the future.These allegations, when they are surfacing, are not being dealt with properly and quickly enough. They need to be dealt with much more speedily in the future.
If I thought for one second that I was a member of an antisemitic party I would cut up my membership card, right here, right now. I don’t believe that is the case.If I thought for one second that I was a member of an antisemitic party I would cut up my membership card, right here, right now. I don’t believe that is the case.
His predecessor as shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also criticised the way the debacle had been handled, speaking to Channel 4 News last night.His predecessor as shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also criticised the way the debacle had been handled, speaking to Channel 4 News last night.
The Labour party needs to do more than simply to have suspensions of people who have been saying antisemitic things.The Labour party needs to do more than simply to have suspensions of people who have been saying antisemitic things.
We’ve actually got to have an action plan to deal with this in order to have strong processes so that there is swift action because you can never tolerate that kind of discrimination in the party.We’ve actually got to have an action plan to deal with this in order to have strong processes so that there is swift action because you can never tolerate that kind of discrimination in the party.
Livingstone has said he will give no more interviews until his LBC show on Saturday, which begins at 10am.Livingstone has said he will give no more interviews until his LBC show on Saturday, which begins at 10am.
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