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Ken Livingstone blames 'embittered MPs' for row over Hitler remarks Ken Livingstone blames 'embittered MPs' for row over Hitler remarks
(35 minutes later)
Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has blamed “embittered MPs” for branding him a Nazi apologist over his controversial statements about Hitler. Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has blamed “embittered MPs” for branding him a Nazi apologist over his controversial statements about Hitler. Speaking at the Oxford Union, he refused to apologise for the comments, and claimed Jeremy Corbyn “had no say” in his suspension from the Labour party.
Speaking at the Oxford Union, he refused to apologise for the comments and claimed Jeremy Corbyn “had no say” in his suspension from the Labour party. In an appearance dominated by questions about antisemitism, Livingstone stuck by his remarks that Hitler supported Zionism as “historical fact”. In an appearance dominated by questions about antisemitism, Livingstone stuck by his remarks that Hitler supported Zionism as “historical fact”. He told members of the debating society that the furore was being used to deflect attention away from the Labour leader’s policies.
He told members of the debating society that the furore was being used to deflect attention away from the Labour leader’s policies. “I think this has been largely manufactured by people trying to undermine Jeremy Corbyn,” he said. “If someone says something antisemitic they will be expelled but you can’t expel someone for telling the truth.” He said it was damaging to suspend someone for saying something factual and compared his comments to “1+1=2.”
“I think this has been largely manufactured by people trying to undermine Jeremy Corbyn,” he said. “If someone says something antisemitic they will be expelled but you can’t expel someone for telling the truth.”
He said it was “damaging” to suspend someone for saying something “factual” and compared his comments to “1+1=2.”
Livingstone said Corbyn, who has branded his remarks “inappropriate”, had been told by unelected party officials that he had been suspended. “Jeremy had no say in this,” he added.Livingstone said Corbyn, who has branded his remarks “inappropriate”, had been told by unelected party officials that he had been suspended. “Jeremy had no say in this,” he added.
Asked by the union’s president, Robert Harris, if he could understand the outrage and disgust he had caused, Livingstone said: “I put all of this in my autobiography five years ago and no one said anything then. Embittered MPs (think) here we can start screaming at Ken Livingstone, ‘Nazi apologist’ and so on, and create all this stuff about antisemitism.” Asked by the union’s president, Robert Harris, if he could understand the outrage and disgust he had caused, Livingstone said: “I put all of this in my autobiography five years ago and no one said anything then. Embittered MPs [think] here we can start screaming at Ken Livingstone, ‘Nazi apologist’ and so on, and create all this stuff about antisemitism.”
Related: Ken Livingstone muddies history to support claims on Hitler and ZionismRelated: Ken Livingstone muddies history to support claims on Hitler and Zionism
He explained he had been attacked throughout his political career for his forthright views and has always refused to say sorry for his controversial opinions. He explained he had been attacked throughout his political career for his forthright views, and had always refused to say sorry for his controversial opinions. “When I have gone through lots of people saying I should apologise to this reporter or apologise for saying Hitler was a supporter of Zionism … I have never apologised,” he said.
“When I have gone through lots of people saying I should apologise to this reporter or apologise for saying Hitler was a supporter of Zionism... I have never apologised,” he said.
He defended his record on the issue while running the capital, insisting his tenure from 2000 to 2008 is “the best record in modern times” in terms of the drop in antisemitic incidents.He defended his record on the issue while running the capital, insisting his tenure from 2000 to 2008 is “the best record in modern times” in terms of the drop in antisemitic incidents.
“In this latest antisemitic row, I couldn’t walk down the street without being stopped by people saying, ‘Don’t give into them, we know what you say is true’. One Jewish woman said: ‘Don’t these MPs read history?’”“In this latest antisemitic row, I couldn’t walk down the street without being stopped by people saying, ‘Don’t give into them, we know what you say is true’. One Jewish woman said: ‘Don’t these MPs read history?’”
The Labour party has been plagued by allegations of antisemitism in recent months but Livingstone said he had never heard any complaints before a row erupted in the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC). The Labour party has been plagued by allegations of antisemitism in recent months, but Livingstone said he had never heard any complaints before a row erupted in the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC). In February, Alex Chalmers, an undergraduate at Oriel College, resigned as co-chairman after claiming that a large proportion of members “have some kind of problem with Jews” and some sympathise with Islamist militant group Hamas.
In February, Alex Chalmers, an undergraduate at Oriel College, resigned as co-chairman after claiming a large proportion of members “have some kind of problem with Jews” and some sympathise with Islamist militant group Hamas. Reports of slurs and songs said to amount to antisemitism were reported by the university’s Jewish Society, known as JSoc. A review conducted by Baroness Royall found the OULC was not institutionally antisemitic, but called on the student club to examine its culture and create a “safe space” for discussion and debate without discrimination.
Reports of slurs and songs sung that were said to amount to antisemitism were reported by the university’s Jewish Society, known as JSoc. She said: “I do not believe that there is institutional antisemitism within OULC. Difficulties however face OULC, which must be addressed to ensure a safe space for all Labour students to debate and campaign around the great ideas of our movement.”
However, a review conducted by Baroness Royall found the OULC was not institutionally antisemitic but called on the student club to examine its culture and create a “safe space” for discussion and debate without discrimination.
She said: “I do not believe that there is institutional antisemitism within OULC. Difficulties however face OULC which must be addressed to ensure a safe space for all Labour students to debate and campaign around the great ideas of our movement.”