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]

Deadsouls - probably because ken is a big mate of Corbyn and the disciplinary committee decided that expelling him would look as if they were giving in the right wing elements of the party.

Oh okay, thank you. That makes sense. It's dissapointing that he won't apologise. Shows a lack of humility. And digging his heels in stubbornly - also dissapointing

I mean at least acknowledge that people have been hurt by his comments, even if he doesn't retract them.

It would like they were giving in to pressure from the 'Zionist media'

Unfortunately, they know that's how some/many? Of their support think.

Kens intransigence has made this so much worse. If he cared about the party, surely he'd stop his bizarre obsession.

He should just shut up about it

Why is he being such a dick about it?

There is one theory that he's ill.

I would suggest that like a lot of powerful people, he never learnt to back down. He simply can't.

I would also suggest he has always had an issue with Jews and won't back down to them in particular.

Who knows though!

Yes he should be expelled, not just for his original comments, but for his total lack of contrition and humility since then. He said some seriously offensive, hurtful things and has shown zero remorse or reflection. He's still running around London bellowing 'Hitler' at anyone with a microphone, while saying he can't see 'what all the fuss is about' and defending his right to 'tell the truth'

His arrogance is truly stunning. Either he's actually unwell, or he's in the mood for some Grade A shit stirring, which is appalling. I don't know why he's putting his old mate Corbyn in this position either, because he needs this like a hole in the head. The Tories must be absolutely pissing themselves. Labour Loonies at it again. Its shameful.

Could it be that in the political circles KL and his associates move in if a person speaks up for Jewish issues that makes them pro-Zionist and therefore anti-Islamic? Is it a question of knowing which side his bread is buttered?

I don't think there is an automatic link between being pro-Jewish and pro Zionist OR that pro Zionist equals anti Islamic. So if there really is that perception in some political circles it would be foolish.

Ah, Ken loves all the attention, doesn't he? His career is over anyway, so he has nothing to lose.

He doesn't give a shit about the Labour Party. He has no qualms about 'bringing the party into disrepute'. Why was he even giving that interview about Naz Shah to the BBC in the first place? He should have been out campaigning for Sadiq Khan for mayor of London.

The Labour Party have clearly shown they have plenty of tolerance for anti-semitism, if you have the right connections. The whole thing is shameful.

Why was he even giving that interview about Naz Shah to the BBC in the first place

Exactly and Nazi Shah is now calling for him to be expelled.

Was that a typo?

I really like naz shah, she's strong and intelligent enough to know she doesn't know everything.

Ops yes I have met her. She is really nice and completely apologetic about the mistake she made.

Oh that's nice to hear. Her life- story is incredible (would make a good bio-pic)

He should have been expelled.

It pains me, this whole thing, because he was one of my political heroes in the past. But he is acting appallingly and he should be expelled from the party, and if the party can't see that they are deluded. I am ashamed of him. He is making things worse and worse every time he opens his mouth.

Thank you to those who posted links and explained the offence and historically inaccuracy better than I could have done.

Actually there is lots of evidence of collaboration between the Judenrat and Nazi forces which has been studied. It is quite probable that there were bigger geopolitical ambitions involved.

All that said ..... it still SUCKED and it was still WRONG. 40 million Europeans died. So whoever funded Hitler and his thugs, whatever the machinations were , it was still a horrible time for ordinary Europeans whatever their ethnic background. We are still scared of them. Lots of ex-Nazis were spirited away to Western countries (eg Operation Paperclip) and they are still hard at it, trying this neo-imperial, slave labour creating crap all over the world (eg South America, Middle East) and are only stymied by the fact they've done it to so many different groups (including their own) who have cottoned on.

It is quite probable that there were bigger geopolitical ambitions involved.
Do you have any reliable references for that, mimi?
The members of your average Judenrat did not exactly join up freely.