To think Ken Livingstone should have been expelled from the Labour Party for his Hitler comments

[ForalltheSaints]

Labour Party has copped out big time by the 2 year suspension. Ken Livingstone should have accepted that he caused offence and was incorrect about the Nazis views and apologised.

[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/world-history/adolf-hitler-zionism-zionist-nazis-haavara-agreement-ken-livingstone-labour-antisemitism-row-a7009981.html]

[ImperialBlether]

You do realise this happened a year ago, don't you? Look at the date of the article. He's halfway through the suspension now.

[ForalltheSaints]

Yes, but the hearing has only just finished and the decision was today.

[Applebite]

Yes. He's still sliming around in the news tonight arguing about what he said and didn't say...

[longfingernails]

By only giving him a slap on the wrist, Labour has reminded people that despite all their politically correct talk, they are quite happy to tolerate his ugly brand of politics. Normal decent voters are repulsed, and therefore right-wing governments are made more likely, leading to better management of the economy and society. Therefore, YABU.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

Absolutely disgusting, as is the abuse Ruth Smeeth MP us getting on twitter.

[MyBeloved]

The man is vile and should never be allowed back into the Labour Party after what he said. It's beyond disgraceful.

[histinyhandsarefrozen]

Ken livingstone is a twat.

[Mulledwine1]

There was some limited cooperation between the Nazis and the Zionists. The Haavara agreement, according to Wikipedia, allowed around 60,000 German Jews to emigrate. There's a good article on the Independent about why this does not mean the Nazis were Zionists though.

Livingstone is a prat. I don't know why he can't keep his mouth shut. As someone said yesterday, he achieved a few things for London when he was mayor but he's going to be remembered for this debacle instead.

[MyBeloved]

Not the first time he's shown his true antisemitic colours.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/media/2005/feb/12/pressandpublishing.londonpolitics

Odious man.

[LumelaMme]

It's bloody shocking. Livingstone has been skating close to the line (and sometimes over it) for years.

It reflects appallingly badly on the Labour Party. He's back to being a member, he just can't hold office for a year. He talks a pile of anti-Semitic drivel, and that's the punishment?

[histinyhandsarefrozen]

Yes, I know someone who worked with him in the 1970's and thought him brilliant ...but even back then having a weird obsession with Jews.

He's not a nice man. And he's no longer brilliant (if he ever was)

[Applebite]

DF has met him. Now, DF is a bluff, tough self-made Yorkshire man and his politics are somewhere to the right of Ghenghis Khan. so he is not a fan of red ken and his policies.

Nonetheless he said Livingstone is positively dangerous when you meet him, because he is so utterly charming and persuasive. Even when your views are very different to his.

Sounds as if he's lost his charm these days. The poisonous twat.

[DingDongtheWitchIsDangDiddlyDe]

Livingstone has long been accused of anti-semitism because of his support of Palestine and his criticism of Israel. It's a charge always levelled at people who say such things.
I think its interesting that a group of Jewish Labour members have criticised the decision and called for his reinstatement. As they say, anti-zionism is not the same thing is anti-semitism.

[histinyhandsarefrozen]

As they say, anti-zionism is not the same thing is anti-semitism.

Thanks for explaining that, DingDong. The Jews keep getting confused.

[DingDongtheWitchIsDangDiddlyDe]

No need to be a dick about it, its hardly a contentious notion.

[histinyhandsarefrozen]

Who's the dick?

[MyBeloved]

So calling a Jewish journalist a concentration camp guard is not anti semitic then ding ding?

The man is awful and should have been expected long ago.

[MyBeloved]

*expelled

[AliceKlar]

As they say, anti-zionism is not the same thing is anti-semitism.

But it is sometimes a reason anti-semitic people give as to why they're not. But it's clear they actually ARE anti-semitic by the things they then go on to say.

In theory it isn''t the same thing. I'm anti-Zionist but not anti-semitic. I'm Jewish and definitely do not condone what is happening in Palestine.

[LumelaMme]

Livingstone has been accused of anti-Semitism because he trots out anti-Semitic bollocks. Simples.

[AliceKlar]

And yes, Livingstone should have been expelled. He's dangerous imo. I had a conversation with a labour rep who was shocked that I thought Labour condoned anti-semitism by the failure to act appropriately when anti-semitic things go on within their party. He seemed genuinely shocked and disbelieving as to how I could possibly think that.

[histinyhandsarefrozen]

I think we did well on this thread,we got to an incredible thirteen posts before the obligatory dick post about how Jews get so confused.

[MyBeloved]

Can we please keep this thread on track?

It's abut Ken Livingstone. He said Hitler was a Zionist until he went mad and murdered 6 million Jews.

He has continually defended his comments.

It is one of many he has made over years against Jews (including personal comments as linked above).

How much evidence do people actually need?!

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

I think its interesting that a group of Jewish Labour members have criticised the decision and called for his reinstatement.

Many more Jewish members, Jewish MPs HET and the Chief Rabbi have said his 'punishment' is way too lenient.

HTH

[samG76]

and the "Jewish" labour members are to say the least marginal in terms of community involvement. They are the "asajews" whom Howard Jacobson writes so perceptively about. I would be surprised if any of them has grandchildren who identify as Jewish.