Ken Livingstone has stood by a series of outbursts widely condemned as anti-Semitic, and which got him suspended from the Labour Party.
The former Mayor of London said his claims that Hitler was a Zionist are “historical fact” and the equivalent of stating that “1+1=2”.
He also attempted to brush away the party’s anti-Semitism crisis as a smear campaign against leader Jeremy Corbyn – a longtime ally who reluctantly suspended Livingstone in April.
He was booted out for a series of disastrous Hitler-centric interviews, including one where he said: “Hitler was supporting Zionism – this before he went mad and ended up killing 6 million Jews.”
Ken Livingstone must be suspended from the Labour Party
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) April 28, 2016
He also claimed criticizing Israel is now impossible because of an Israeli lobby who shout down dissent with claims of anti-Semitism.
At a speech to the Oxford Union last night, he said: “Suspending me for stating historical fact is damaging – nobody would ban me for saying 1 + 1 = 2.”
He added “This whole anti-Semitism thing is blown out of proportion to smear Jeremy Corbyn.”
Among those apparently blowing the situation “out of proportion” are Jewish Labour peer Lord Levy and MP Wes Streeting. More than 30 Labour MPs, ultimately called for his suspension.
Even Jeremy Corbyn admitted that Livingstone crossed the line. In a new Vice News fly-on-the-wall documentary, he denied that his response to the crisis constituted a failure of leadership:
Livingstone also claimed that the Labour party has no problem with Jewish people whatsoever.
He told the crowd of students: “I’ve been in the Labour Party for 47 years, I can’t remember an anti-Semitic comment in the Labour Party.”
His position is at odds with the party leadership, which has suspended him, MP Naz Shah and a host of councilors over claims of anti-Semitism.
The party is currently conducting an inquiry into the matter.
