This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/apr/29/labour-antisemitism-crisis-party-fallout-ken-livingstone-suspension-live
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Labour antisemitism crisis: party deals with Ken Livingstone suspension fallout – live | Labour antisemitism crisis: party deals with Ken Livingstone suspension fallout – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.16pm BST | |
| 16:16 | |
| Petition to suspend John Mann nears 10,000 | |
| Ben Quinn | |
| A Labour member who has garnered close to 10,000 signatures for a petition calling on the party to discipline MP John Mann for the way he confronted Ken Livingstone has said that she full expects the former London mayor to be “back on board” after an investigation into his comments. | |
| Kate Hillier’s Change.org petition castigates Mann for “appallingly unprofessional and toxic behaviour” and accuses him of bringing the Labour party into disrepute. | |
| The petition, which will be delivered to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, had attracted more than 9,500 signatures by 4pm on Friday. | |
| Hillier, who described herself as a long-term Labour supporter who had drifted away but then rejoined in time to vote for Jeremy Corbun during its leadership contest, said that she had been “shocked” by the behaviour of Mann, who was called in to the Labour Whip’s office on Thursday after his high-profile confrontation with Livingstone. | |
| Asked about the wider controversy surrounding allegations of anti-semitism within Labour, she told the Guardian: | |
| There is of course problems with this anti-Semitism stuff which is going on, but it is quite confusing. I don’t really understand it all. | |
| Referring to Livingstone’s own comments about the role of Hitler and Jews in Germany during his rule, she added: | |
| This particular piece of legislation he is talking about from Nazi Germany.. if that is a fact, then I think we can’t be afraid to talk about historical facts, unless it is dubious of course. | |
| She added of other allegedly anti-semitic comments by Labour figures: | |
| There have been some silly ones obviously but it feels like it’s getting to a point where you can’t say anything. You can’t criticise a political regime because you are going to be branded a racist. | |
| Updated | |
| at 4.16pm BST | |
| 3.48pm BST | |
| 15:48 | |
| Ian Saville, a Labour member who founded the pro-Corbyn group Jews for Jeremy, has been speaking on BBC News. | |
| He said he did believe that Labour had an anti-Semitism problem more than any other party, giving the example of Aidan Burley, the former Tory MP, who was photographed in a Nazi uniform costume. | |
| There is always going to be some anti-semitism in a party of half a million members. I don’t think it is a major problem. We have situations in the Tory party where an MP was dresses in Nazi regalia. | |
| Saville said Livingstone had said something “unwise” but said it was important not to conflate criticism of Israel or Zionism with a hatred of Jews. | |
| He didn’t come down on the side of Hitler. It was a stupid thing to say ‘Hitler only did what he did before he went mad’. But there were some Zionists that tried to make a deal with the Nazi party. | |
| 3.05pm BST | 3.05pm BST |
| 15:05 | 15:05 |
| Jones: Ken lives in the London bubble, he wouldn't have considered elections | Jones: Ken lives in the London bubble, he wouldn't have considered elections |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| The Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn Jones has rejected claims that he “banned” Jeremy Corbyn from joining him on the assembly election campaign trail. | The Welsh Labour leader, Carwyn Jones has rejected claims that he “banned” Jeremy Corbyn from joining him on the assembly election campaign trail. |
| The idea of a UK Labour leader not joining a campaign in one of the party’s traditional strongholds would have once been inconceivable. | The idea of a UK Labour leader not joining a campaign in one of the party’s traditional strongholds would have once been inconceivable. |
| Jones told the Guardian: | Jones told the Guardian: |
| The decision [for the visit to be cancelled] was taken yesterday. There’s no question of me having banned him from Wales. I don’t have the power to do that, of course. | The decision [for the visit to be cancelled] was taken yesterday. There’s no question of me having banned him from Wales. I don’t have the power to do that, of course. |
| Yesterday we saw what happened with Ken Livingstone. We knew that if he came today the day would be entirely about Ken Livingstone and we’re here to spend a day talking about the Welsh election on Thursday. | Yesterday we saw what happened with Ken Livingstone. We knew that if he came today the day would be entirely about Ken Livingstone and we’re here to spend a day talking about the Welsh election on Thursday. |
| On Livingstone’s comments and suspension, he said: | On Livingstone’s comments and suspension, he said: |
| Enough’s enough. How many times is he going to do this? He knew exactly what he was doing yesterday. This is not somebody who is inexperienced. It was deliberate. | Enough’s enough. How many times is he going to do this? He knew exactly what he was doing yesterday. This is not somebody who is inexperienced. It was deliberate. |
| Asked if Livingstone would have even known an election was on. Jones said: | Asked if Livingstone would have even known an election was on. Jones said: |
| No – he lives in the London bubble, [he] wouldn’t have thought about the elections elsewhere. | No – he lives in the London bubble, [he] wouldn’t have thought about the elections elsewhere. |
| Welsh Labour has mixed views over whether Corbyn is positive or negative for their campaign. Ahead of the campaign, Jones told the Guardian Welsh Labour would attempt to distance itself from the UK party and the infighting that has blighted Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership during its campaign. | Welsh Labour has mixed views over whether Corbyn is positive or negative for their campaign. Ahead of the campaign, Jones told the Guardian Welsh Labour would attempt to distance itself from the UK party and the infighting that has blighted Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership during its campaign. |
| On Friday he said Corbyn was playing better now. | On Friday he said Corbyn was playing better now. |
| On the doorstep it’s fair to say we get mixed views. Fewer people are raising him as an issue and the reaction is more mixed. Some months ago the reaction was more negative. Not now – it’s much more balanced. | On the doorstep it’s fair to say we get mixed views. Fewer people are raising him as an issue and the reaction is more mixed. Some months ago the reaction was more negative. Not now – it’s much more balanced. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.12pm BST | |
| 2.57pm BST | 2.57pm BST |
| 14:57 | 14:57 |
| Jamie Reed, the Labour MP for Copeland, has written an emotional blog for centrist Labour pressure group Progress. | Jamie Reed, the Labour MP for Copeland, has written an emotional blog for centrist Labour pressure group Progress. |
| The Labour party can, and at some point will, become a national movement again. Doing so will require the abandonment of both exceptionalism and the corruption of language. | The Labour party can, and at some point will, become a national movement again. Doing so will require the abandonment of both exceptionalism and the corruption of language. |
| Nowhere can these destructive practices be seen more clearly than through the events leading up to and following the suspension of Naz Shah MP from the Labour benches this week. | Nowhere can these destructive practices be seen more clearly than through the events leading up to and following the suspension of Naz Shah MP from the Labour benches this week. |
| Having made appalling and unacceptable comments about Israel and the Jewish people, Naz apologized with a statement and also, uncommonly, in the House of Commons. The apology appeared to be both genuine and sincere. Prior to this a Party spokesperson was asked whether or not Naz was, in fact an anti-Semite. The spokesman responded ‘We’re not saying she’s anti-Semitic, we’re saying she’s made remarks that she doesn’t agree with.’ | Having made appalling and unacceptable comments about Israel and the Jewish people, Naz apologized with a statement and also, uncommonly, in the House of Commons. The apology appeared to be both genuine and sincere. Prior to this a Party spokesperson was asked whether or not Naz was, in fact an anti-Semite. The spokesman responded ‘We’re not saying she’s anti-Semitic, we’re saying she’s made remarks that she doesn’t agree with.’ |
| This explanation represents exceptionalism of the worst kind and a truly appalling corruption of language and logic. | This explanation represents exceptionalism of the worst kind and a truly appalling corruption of language and logic. |
| As I did after our general election defeat, this week I again apologise to every man, woman and child in our nation who needs a Labour government. In a poisoned environment of debased meaning, I have no other words than these: I am truly sorry and my heart is breaking. | As I did after our general election defeat, this week I again apologise to every man, woman and child in our nation who needs a Labour government. In a poisoned environment of debased meaning, I have no other words than these: I am truly sorry and my heart is breaking. |
| 2.44pm BST | 2.44pm BST |
| 14:44 | 14:44 |
| The leader of Labour’s sister party in Israel has said his party was on “red alert” over the number of incidents plaguing UK Labour. | The leader of Labour’s sister party in Israel has said his party was on “red alert” over the number of incidents plaguing UK Labour. |
| Labor leader Isaac Herzog told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One that he did not believe the views “symbolise the majority of the British Labour Party.” | Labor leader Isaac Herzog told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One that he did not believe the views “symbolise the majority of the British Labour Party.” |
| It’s a red alert that comes from within the body politic of the British Labour Party. | It’s a red alert that comes from within the body politic of the British Labour Party. |
| However, this collection of recent events in a short time span show it has to be treated and I would focus not only on the political side but also on educating, explaining the issues at stake before people say such horrific things. | However, this collection of recent events in a short time span show it has to be treated and I would focus not only on the political side but also on educating, explaining the issues at stake before people say such horrific things. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.45pm BST | at 2.45pm BST |
| 2.27pm BST | 2.27pm BST |
| 14:27 | 14:27 |
| Conor Pope, senior reporter at Labour List, points out Livingstone is now in his third day of causing chaos for Labour. | Conor Pope, senior reporter at Labour List, points out Livingstone is now in his third day of causing chaos for Labour. |
| That puts us in a position where, logically, the only way his membership can be reinstated is if the Labour Party endorses his comments. | That puts us in a position where, logically, the only way his membership can be reinstated is if the Labour Party endorses his comments. |
| 2.26pm BST | 2.26pm BST |
| 14:26 | 14:26 |
| More here from Livingstone’s latest interview with Sky News. | More here from Livingstone’s latest interview with Sky News. |
| How can the truth be an offence? If I had lied that would be offensive | How can the truth be an offence? If I had lied that would be offensive |
| On the history of Hitler and Zionism | On the history of Hitler and Zionism |
| I suspect most of the pro-Israel Labour MPs have no idea about the history, they certainly don’t teach about 1930s Zionist policy in Israeli schools … almost everyone in the Jewish community grows up in complete ignorance of this. | I suspect most of the pro-Israel Labour MPs have no idea about the history, they certainly don’t teach about 1930s Zionist policy in Israeli schools … almost everyone in the Jewish community grows up in complete ignorance of this. |
| Over here, they don’t teach it in schools either. | Over here, they don’t teach it in schools either. |
| On the controversial work of American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner | On the controversial work of American Marxist historian Lenni Brenner |
| He came to Britain to publicise his book and we did a public meeting together. | He came to Britain to publicise his book and we did a public meeting together. |
| The shocking thing about his book was that he revealed that not only Hitler had wanted to move all of Germany’s Jews to Israel, but that the Zionist leadership continued a dialogue privately with Hitler from ‘33 when he became Chancellor from 1940-41. | The shocking thing about his book was that he revealed that not only Hitler had wanted to move all of Germany’s Jews to Israel, but that the Zionist leadership continued a dialogue privately with Hitler from ‘33 when he became Chancellor from 1940-41. |
| I’ll just produce the evidence and I mean it’s hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party here when all this was there 30 years ago in the public domain and nobody raised a peep. | I’ll just produce the evidence and I mean it’s hard for somebody to decide to suspend me from the party here when all this was there 30 years ago in the public domain and nobody raised a peep. |
| On equating Zionism and Nazism | On equating Zionism and Nazism |
| Political leaders need to suck up to nasty people all the time, I mean David Cameron has to suck up to the Saudi royal family all the time, as Blair did. They are an abhorrent regime. | Political leaders need to suck up to nasty people all the time, I mean David Cameron has to suck up to the Saudi royal family all the time, as Blair did. They are an abhorrent regime. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.41pm BST | at 2.41pm BST |
| 2.21pm BST | 2.21pm BST |
| 14:21 | 14:21 |
| The New Statesman’s George Eaton has this from Labour MPs mulling whether a leadership challenge to Corbyn is now more probable. | The New Statesman’s George Eaton has this from Labour MPs mulling whether a leadership challenge to Corbyn is now more probable. |
| Labour MPs on why a leadership challenge to Corbyn has become more likely https://t.co/21aB8mqeOq pic.twitter.com/8a5elwmh1o | Labour MPs on why a leadership challenge to Corbyn has become more likely https://t.co/21aB8mqeOq pic.twitter.com/8a5elwmh1o |
| 1.49pm BST | 1.49pm BST |
| 13:49 | 13:49 |
| Lunchtime summary | Lunchtime summary |
| Everything I said yesterday was true and I will be presenting the academic book about that to the Labour Party inquiry. | Everything I said yesterday was true and I will be presenting the academic book about that to the Labour Party inquiry. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 1.46pm BST | 1.46pm BST |
| 13:46 | 13:46 |
| Welsh Labour says it is unlikely Corbyn will now have time to come to Wales after visit cancelled | Welsh Labour says it is unlikely Corbyn will now have time to come to Wales after visit cancelled |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| Welsh leader Carwyn Jones has said there probably won’t be time now for Corbyn to join him on campaign trail before Election Day. | Welsh leader Carwyn Jones has said there probably won’t be time now for Corbyn to join him on campaign trail before Election Day. |
| Welsh Labour had previously said they were attempting to reschedule the visit that was cancelled for fear of a media storm that might detract from their Welsh Assembly election campaigning. | Welsh Labour had previously said they were attempting to reschedule the visit that was cancelled for fear of a media storm that might detract from their Welsh Assembly election campaigning. |
| Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones on election trail - but no Jeremy Corbyn. pic.twitter.com/TExFKSMt4i | Welsh first minister Carwyn Jones on election trail - but no Jeremy Corbyn. pic.twitter.com/TExFKSMt4i |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.19pm BST | at 2.19pm BST |
| 1.45pm BST | 1.45pm BST |
| 13:45 | 13:45 |
| Welsh Labour members received this message this afternoon on Corbyn’s visit cancellation, signed by Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones, denying he had prevented Corbyn’s visit. | Welsh Labour members received this message this afternoon on Corbyn’s visit cancellation, signed by Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones, denying he had prevented Corbyn’s visit. |
| You may have seen some reports today about Jeremy Corbyn’s planned visit to Wales being cancelled. Whilst that is the case, it is not right to say there is a ‘bar’ on Jeremy coming to Wales. His office have said as much this morning. | You may have seen some reports today about Jeremy Corbyn’s planned visit to Wales being cancelled. Whilst that is the case, it is not right to say there is a ‘bar’ on Jeremy coming to Wales. His office have said as much this morning. |
| There are incredibly serious issues for Jeremy to deal with in Westminster, and it is right and in the interests of the UK Party that he stays there today and sorts this out. I give him my support in getting to grips with that today and commend him on the action he took yesterday. | There are incredibly serious issues for Jeremy to deal with in Westminster, and it is right and in the interests of the UK Party that he stays there today and sorts this out. I give him my support in getting to grips with that today and commend him on the action he took yesterday. |
| In Wales, our campaign for a Welsh Labour Government delivering on jobs, the NHS and good schools standards continues. Those are the things Jeremy spoke about when he came to our conference in February. | In Wales, our campaign for a Welsh Labour Government delivering on jobs, the NHS and good schools standards continues. Those are the things Jeremy spoke about when he came to our conference in February. |
| Let me say one thing on yesterday’s news. I called for Ken Livingstone to be expelled from Labour, because the views he expressed were not only offensive, but they give license to intolerance in our schools and our communities. | Let me say one thing on yesterday’s news. I called for Ken Livingstone to be expelled from Labour, because the views he expressed were not only offensive, but they give license to intolerance in our schools and our communities. |
| My colleague Steve Morris is currently out following Jones on the campaign trail in Bridgend and will have a report from that imminently. | My colleague Steve Morris is currently out following Jones on the campaign trail in Bridgend and will have a report from that imminently. |
| 1.22pm BST | 1.22pm BST |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| Jeremy Corbyn is not feeling particularly talkative this morning. | Jeremy Corbyn is not feeling particularly talkative this morning. |
| Jeremy Corbyn has no comment when asked what he intends to do about accusations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party https://t.co/guqNXzPTpt | Jeremy Corbyn has no comment when asked what he intends to do about accusations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party https://t.co/guqNXzPTpt |
| 1.22pm BST | 1.22pm BST |
| 13:22 | 13:22 |
| The Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana was on the campaign trail with Jeremy Corbyn in Grimsby and Hull as the chaos unfolded yesterday afternoon. Here’s the video of the day, which started with fans clamouring for selfies and ends as Corbyn suspends Livingstone saying he will not tolerate anti-Semitism. | The Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana was on the campaign trail with Jeremy Corbyn in Grimsby and Hull as the chaos unfolded yesterday afternoon. Here’s the video of the day, which started with fans clamouring for selfies and ends as Corbyn suspends Livingstone saying he will not tolerate anti-Semitism. |
| “It’s not a happy day,” he says. “He made remarks that were unacceptable and a lot of people complained about it. | “It’s not a happy day,” he says. “He made remarks that were unacceptable and a lot of people complained about it. |
| “Obviously [I’m upset] because I’ve had to suspend people from the party, it’s not my wish to do that but I think if people are making remarks that are unacceptable I have to do it.” | “Obviously [I’m upset] because I’ve had to suspend people from the party, it’s not my wish to do that but I think if people are making remarks that are unacceptable I have to do it.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.27pm BST | at 1.27pm BST |