Ken Livingstone's statement in full

[deathboy]

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone issued a statement saying he will not apologise to the Daily Mail group of papers or to a Jewish reporter for likening him to a concentration camp guard.

Here is his statement in full

I have to say I admire the strength of his rebuttal.

Comments

[damnation-gang.livejournal.com]

I particularly like this :

If you feel that my comments are too harsh or robust then you are most probably in the wrong job

[drreagan.livejournal.com]

I watched his speech live. I was very impressed. And that has nothing to do with my dislike of the daily mail group.

[gaius-octavian.livejournal.com]

I have to say that, while Red Ken is undoubtedly a weasel, he's always made himself available to the press. I merely play at this, but I've photographed him many times, from the press pit. Tony Benn and George Galloway are also very accessible.

But having said that, the rest of his attack on the Daily Mail verges on the ridiculous. If he wants to dredge up the history of anti-Semitism, let's talk about Socialists in the 30s and 40s shall we?

[hythloday.livejournal.com]

There is a difference between changing the message, as the Socialists have done, and changing the target of a message, but not the message itself, as the Daily Mail have done.

[jasontheknight.livejournal.com]

I don't see why people are still trying to make him apologise. He's already quite clearly stated that, if he did, it wouldn't mean anything. What's the point of forcing him into a false apology?

I wonder if the same brouhaha would have ensued had the reporter come from one of the other groups held in Nazi concentration camps? Just because the West is wracked with guilt over the fact that they didn't do anything to prevent, or reduce the impact of, the Holocaust doesn't mean that referring to someone's working practice whilst being ignorant of their ethnicity should cause such an uproar. If Ken Livingstone had gone "Oh, it's you you Jewish fuck, why couldn't you have been exterminated along the rest of your foul kind?" then maybe the naysayers would have a point.

[deathboy.livejournal.com]

too right. give 'em the smell of blood and watch the dogs dive in for the kill.

[edwards.livejournal.com]

Even if he had said that; if he was prepared to be judged on his words and beliefs, rather than changing them to suit I'd respect that.

I'd think he should be kicked out and thrown to the Jews, too, but I'd still respect it a lot more than if he tried to hide his true feelings on something so politically important.

[adamw]

I have to agree.

Fair play to him for standing by his guns - and indeed for backing up his arguments so well, too.

[deeteeuk.livejournal.com]

Jesus, good on him. For once someone in public office turns round to the Daily Mail and says "Hang on you snivelling little shits, you're nothing but a pack of right fuckers yourselves. Come back when you've stopped peddling your hate filled little diatribes, and we'll talk."

[tephramancy.livejournal.com]

What they said.

James and I were discussing this, and he said "I don't know whether it's just good PR, or if he's really like this, but he comes across as a man who'd rather be unpopular for being honest than a well-liked liar." I agree completely.

[taoist-goth.livejournal.com]

Whether you like or dislike Cuddly Ken, you have to admit he's tenacious and resolute.

Personally I think he's great. Anyone that gets chucked out of the Labour Party, then stands against them and wins, is a genius.

[edwards.livejournal.com]

Normally, I hate the man, if only because of the anti-car policy which seems quite appropriate for London having far-reaching effects in rural areas; in one way the congestion charge does seem fair in that regard (except everyone wants to do it).

However, I am right behind him on this one. The Jewish community cannot claim ownership of the holocaust as a point of reference as they often do - and clearly the respectable Jewish media have the sense of proportion to handle things correctly.

That, and the Daily Mail are foul populist tabloid scum :D

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yungfuktoi_/]

Absolutely.
Everyone is urging him to 'aplogize and get it over with'....What the fuck does THAT say about our government? That they would urge a man, who is obviously NOT sorry, to LIE publically just to quell a situation.
If Mr(Feingold?) is so offended at being compared to a concentration camp guard, then perhaps he shouldn't ACT like one.

[echomirage.livejournal.com]

cant say i know much on this guy aside he's the mayor of london..but good for him for standing up to what he said! i'd buy him a beer

[siani-hedgehog.livejournal.com]

good for him. :)
it was a totally valid and intelligent insult, and i'm glad he's got the balls to stand up for himself.

[honeypossum.livejournal.com]

This was an amazing non-story that went overboard-good on him for sticking to his guns. Odds on our Tone doing the same thing?