Ken Livingstone high court victory

[Frosty Jack]

Ken Livingstone on High Court victory

 

Ken Livingstone issued the following statement following the High Court decision to overturn the Standards Board decision against him and to award him the full costs of the case.

 

Mr Livingstone said:

 

`The decision of the High Court to overturn the ruling by the Standards Board for England that I had breached the code of conduct of the Greater London Authority is a victory for democracy and commonsense.

 

`Those who have been elected by the people should only be removed by the people or because they have broken the law.

 

`I have never denied that my remarks were offensive. They were intended to be. Mr Justice Collins rightly described as `disgraceful? the conduct of the Daily Mail Group in harassing myself and my family and even my neighbours over many years.

 

`He also correctly described as `honestly held? view that the Daily Mail Group?s record, of anti-Semitism, support for the Blackshirts, racism and anti-gay bigotry, is loathsome.

 

`The judge described as ?entirely appropriate? my remark that the journalist?s behaviour disfigures journalism in pursuing me down the street, after a reception for a gay politician, barking questions when I had said I did not wish to be interviewed.

 

`Mr Justice Collins also commented: `I am bound to say that the gap in the recording is strange and I would have thought was consistent with Mr Finegold wanting to ensure that something was concealed.?

 

`While it was never stated openly, because it could not be defended, the underlying innuendo in this case was that my remarks were in some way anti-Semitic.

 

`Mr Justice Collins totally rejected this, saying: `It could not be sensibly suggested that he is or ever has been anti-Semitic? and referred to my role in `opposing racism and anti-Semitism? which has been consistent throughout my political career.

 

`The Board of Deputies, who initiated this case with the Standards Board, has suggested that all they were seeking was an apology. I have to say if they had picked up the phone to me I would have been happy to discuss all of this. They did not. Instead they made a complaint to the Standards Board.

 

`I have always made clear that my words were not intended to cause offence to the Jewish community and that I view the holocaust against the Jews as the greatest racial crime of the 20th century.

 

`My differences with the Board have always been with regard to the policies of the government of Israel towards the Palestinians. On this point Mr Justice Collins was unequivocal. He made it quite clear that criticising the government of Israel is not the same as anti-Semitism: `He has not always approved of all of the activities of the State of Israel and has made his views about that clear. But that has nothing to do with anti-Semitism.

`Naturally, I am pleased that the judge has awarded me full costs which means that none of the cost this case will fall on London council tax payers or myself.?

 

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