Ken Livingstone publishes ‘defence’ of his claims Hitler supported Zionism ahead of Labour hearing… by claiming ‘Nazi policy had the effect of supporting Zionism’
The former London Mayor claimed he had been victimised for supporting Jeremy Corbyn
KEN LIVINGSTONE has defended his comments about Hitler and Anti-Semitism ahead of his official disciplinary hearing later this week – insisting there WAS “collaboration between Hitler and a section of Zionism”.
In a 17-page statement, the former London Mayor said that “only a biased or rigged jury” could find him guilty of breaching Labour Party policy.
Mr Livingstone is being charged with acting in a way that was “grossly detrimental to the Labour party” – by defending MP Naz Shah’s comments about Israel and making comparisons with Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.
He claims that the MP was the victim of a smear campaign after she was suspended for sharing anti-Semitic posts on Facebook – she has since apologised for them.
Mr Livingstone was suspended last April after he said Hitler was in support of Zionism before he “went mad” in reference to attacking Israeli policy.
A fierce confrontation with John Mann MP then took place – when he told Mr Livingstone he was a “disgrace” and a “Nazi apologise”.
The party’s National Constitutional Committee will take evidence on Thursday and Friday about the allegations.
But Mr Livingstone today insisted he had done nothing wrong and that he went on air repeatedly to “refuse these prejudicial and detrimental attacks” on the party.
He denied that he had linked Hitler and the conflict in Israel/Palestine, and that he did not say or suggest that Hilter was a Zionist.
And he added: “I am being attacked by the right-wing of the Labour party because I support Palestinian human rights and strongly back our leader Jeremy Corbyn.”
He also said that it has been an “absurd waste of Labour party resources” and insisted that his comments had no effect on Labour’s 2016 council elections result.
Five members of Jewish Labour will be called at witnesses for him, and he will be defended by human rights lawyer Michael Mansfield QC.
The Former London Mayor“I made comments to the media in April 2016 that were entirely aimed at defending both the Labour Party, its Leader and Naz Shah MP from prejudicial and detrimental attacks on them.
“I definitely did not engage in ‘conduct prejudicial and/or grossly detrimental to the Labour Party’.
“On the contrary, my conduct was aimed at defending the Party.
“There is no evidence being presented that matches the charge that has been made against me.
“The NCC should act impartially and reject the false charge being made against me,” he said.