Category: Uncategorised

I am proud of my record as an anti-racist and a leading campaigner against the far-right and their hate, from when I joined the Labour Party in 1969, through my life since, including serving as a local councillor, Greater London Council member, MP, Mayor of London and Labour National Executive Committee member.

I have always implacably opposed anti-Semitism. As a life-long anti-racist, I am deeply hurt by – and fully reject – the accusations again being circulated across parts of the media and by political opponents that I am anything but 100 per cent committed to fighting all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism.
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I’m very disappointed at the deliberate misreporting of my comments regarding the situation in Venezuela.

I have not said that Hugo Chávez should have killed anyone and nor would I ever advocate it. I even dispel this accusation in the very interview that is being extensively quoted.

The point I was making is that contrary to some misrepresentations, Hugo Chávez didn’t repress the former ruling elite in Venezuela and many members of the former ruling elite have stayed in the country, seeking to overthrow elected Presidents through unconstitutional and violent means (including the coup in 2002) ever since.
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Today (4 April) Ken Livingstone was suspended for a further year from the Labour Party as the result of a long delayed quasi judicial process that was not in accord with natural justice.

Ken Livingstone said: ‘Today’s Labour Party panel extended my suspension for another year because of my political views, not because I have done anything to harm the Labour Party.

‘The Labour Party’s disciplinary process was not in accord with natural justice in a number or ways.
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After Ken Livingstone was today suspended for a further year from the Labour Party as the result of a long delayed quasi judicial process that was not in accord with natural justice, five Jewish Labour Party members, who gave evidence in support of Ken Livingstone at the hearing, issued the following statement:

‘We are appalled by the decision to continue the suspension of Ken Livingstone.

‘The case brought against Ken was not that he was antisemitic.
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Today (4 April) Ken Livingstone was suspended for a further year from the Labour Party as the result of a long delayed quasi judicial process that was not in accord with natural justice.

A three-member panel of Labour’s National Constitutional Committee found that Ken Livingstone had acted in a manner ‘prejudicial’ or ‘grossly detrimental’ to the Labour Party.

There was no charge against Ken Livingstone that he was or is anti-Semitic.
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Over 30 leading Jewish members of the Labour Party have written to the Party’s National Constitutional Committee arguing that “we believe it would be a travesty if the Labour Party were to find Ken Livingstone guilty of conduct prejudicial or detrimental to the Party.”

They argue that “as Jews, we are appalled that such a serious issue as antisemitism is being used in this cynical and manipulative way,” adding that “It is harmful to Jewish people that false charges of antisemitism are so casually thrown around.”
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Press Release 28 March 2017

Ken Livingstone to appear before the Labour Party’s National Constitutional Committee

On Thursday this week (30 March) Ken Livingstone will be appearing before the Labour Party’s National Constitutional Committee (NCC) to answer the charge that he engaged in conduct ‘grossly detrimental’ to the Party when he publicly defended the Labour Party against charges of anti-Semitism in 2016.

In April 2016 Ken Livingstone conducted a series of radio and TV interviews in which he defended the Labour Party, its Leader Jeremy Corbyn and a Labour MP Naz Shah, against what he believed were false allegations regarding anti-Semitism.
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Ken Livingstone has submitted a supplementary written statement to the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry on the rise of anti-Semitism.
The committee states that it is inquiring into anti-Semitism, looking at whether prejudice against the Jewish community has increased and the particular dangers facing Jewish people arising from terrorism.
Below is Ken Livingstone’s supplementary written statement.

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Supplementary written statement submitted by Ken Livingstone to the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry on the rise of anti-Semitism

Introduction

I gave written and oral evidence to the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry into anti-Semitism on 14 June 2016.
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Ken Livingstone has been called to present oral evidence to the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry on the rise of anti-Semitism on 14 June.
The committee is inquiring into anti-Semitism, looking at whether prejudice against the Jewish community has increased and the particular dangers facing Jewish people arising from terrorism.
Below is the written statement Ken Livingstone submitted to the committee on the issues it is investigating.

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Written statement submitted by Ken Livingstone to the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry on the rise of anti-Semitism

Introduction

I have been called to give evidence to the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry into anti-Semitism, which is looking at whether prejudice against the Jewish community has increased and the particular dangers facing Jewish people arising from terrorism.
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