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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Ken Livingstone in Tory 'riddled with homosexuals' row | Ken Livingstone in Tory 'riddled with homosexuals' row |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Conservative MPs have called for Labour's candidate for London mayor to apologise for saying their party is "riddled" with homosexuals. | Conservative MPs have called for Labour's candidate for London mayor to apologise for saying their party is "riddled" with homosexuals. |
| Ken Livingstone said some Tory MPs denounce homosexuality, while secretly "indulging". | Ken Livingstone said some Tory MPs denounce homosexuality, while secretly "indulging". |
| Two Tory MPs have written to Labour leader Ed Miliband calling on him to ensure the remarks get retracted. | Two Tory MPs have written to Labour leader Ed Miliband calling on him to ensure the remarks get retracted. |
| Mr Livingstone's spokesman said the fact gay people represent most parties is a good thing. | Mr Livingstone's spokesman said the fact gay people represent most parties is a good thing. |
| Discussing the issue of privacy during an interview in the New Statesman magazine, Mr Livingstone said: "[The public] should be allowed to know everything, except the nature of private relationships - unless there is hypocrisy, like some Tory MP denouncing homosexuality while they are indulging in it." | Discussing the issue of privacy during an interview in the New Statesman magazine, Mr Livingstone said: "[The public] should be allowed to know everything, except the nature of private relationships - unless there is hypocrisy, like some Tory MP denouncing homosexuality while they are indulging in it." |
| Asked why he referred particularly to Conservative MPs, he added: "Well, the Labour ones have all come out. | Asked why he referred particularly to Conservative MPs, he added: "Well, the Labour ones have all come out. |
| "As soon as [former Prime Minister Tony] Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job. It was wonderful. | "As soon as [former Prime Minister Tony] Blair got in, if you came out as lesbian or gay you immediately got a job. It was wonderful. |
| "You just knew the Tory party was riddled with it like everywhere else is." | "You just knew the Tory party was riddled with it like everywhere else is." |
| 'Offensive remarks' | 'Offensive remarks' |
| He also said in the interview that Baroness Thatcher was "clinically insane" while prime minister. | He also said in the interview that Baroness Thatcher was "clinically insane" while prime minister. |
| Conservative London MP Angie Bray said: "These are the sort of offensive remarks we hear all too often from Labour's candidate for mayor. | |
| "Ed Miliband should condemn these outrageous comments and get him to apologise immediately." | "Ed Miliband should condemn these outrageous comments and get him to apologise immediately." |
| Gay Labour MP Chris Bryant said the "faux outrage turns my stomach". | Gay Labour MP Chris Bryant said the "faux outrage turns my stomach". |
| He added: "Of course riddled is a pretty daft word, but if I were drawing up a list of the British politicians who have argued and fought for LGBT rights even when it was unpopular, it would include Labour figures like Chris Smith and Ken Livingstone; and Boris Johnson simply wouldn't feature. | He added: "Of course riddled is a pretty daft word, but if I were drawing up a list of the British politicians who have argued and fought for LGBT rights even when it was unpopular, it would include Labour figures like Chris Smith and Ken Livingstone; and Boris Johnson simply wouldn't feature. |
| "I fully understand that it was pretty miserable in the Tory party as a gay man until very recently and I am delighted that there are now out gay Tories, but we all know there were closeted gay MPs who voted hypocritically." | "I fully understand that it was pretty miserable in the Tory party as a gay man until very recently and I am delighted that there are now out gay Tories, but we all know there were closeted gay MPs who voted hypocritically." |
| A spokesperson for Ken Livingstone said: "Ken is clearly saying the advance of lesbian and gay people into politics is unequivocally a good thing. | A spokesperson for Ken Livingstone said: "Ken is clearly saying the advance of lesbian and gay people into politics is unequivocally a good thing. |
| "He has fought for equality for gay and lesbian people throughout his life, and the fact they are represented in all major political parties is a sign of the progress that has been made." | "He has fought for equality for gay and lesbian people throughout his life, and the fact they are represented in all major political parties is a sign of the progress that has been made." |
| In an interview with the same magazine, current mayor Boris Johnson said his proudest boast was to have "delivered a sound, progressive administration of London over the last four years, which has cut tax and cut crime". | In an interview with the same magazine, current mayor Boris Johnson said his proudest boast was to have "delivered a sound, progressive administration of London over the last four years, which has cut tax and cut crime". |
| Mr Livingstone said that, if elected, he would restore 1,700 police jobs and cut public transport fares. | Mr Livingstone said that, if elected, he would restore 1,700 police jobs and cut public transport fares. |