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Mayor suspended over 'Nazi' jibe
24 February 2006
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has been found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute by comparing a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
Mr Livingstone was suspended from duty for four weeks from March 1 after being found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute.
The three-man Adjudication Panel for England unanimously ruled that Mr Livingstone had been "unnecessarily insensitive and offensive" to Evening Standard reporter Oliver Finegold in February last year.
David Laverick, chairman of the disciplinary panel sitting in central London, said: "His treatment of the journalist was unnecessarily insensitive and offensive. He persisted with a line of comment likening the journalist's job to a concentration camp guard, despite being told that the journalist was Jewish and found it offensive to be asked if he was a German war criminal."
Mr Livingstone was not present at the hearing.
Mr Laverick said: "The reasonable onlooker would regard Mr Livingstone's reputation as being damaged as a result of the exchange. The case tribunal has also concluded that the remarks have also had the effect of damaging the reputation of his office of mayor."
Since Mr Livingstone lost the case he must pay his own costs - estimated at more than £80,000. He can appeal the decision at the High Court.
Sir Anthony Holland, chair of the Standards Board for England, said: "The public expects all elected members to conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach. It is right that the facts of this case have been aired and considered in public in this way."
Commenting on the ruling Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley said: "The Evening Standard has always believed that Mr Livingstone should apologise for his remarks. There is no question that he caused offence to many Londoners by his comments, and his stubborn refusal to say sorry aggravated the position."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone later said of the tribunal result: "This decision strikes at the heart of democracy. Elected politicians should only be able to be removed by the voters or for breaking the law."
24 February 2006
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has been found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute by comparing a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
Mr Livingstone was suspended from duty for four weeks from March 1 after being found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute.
The three-man Adjudication Panel for England unanimously ruled that Mr Livingstone had been "unnecessarily insensitive and offensive" to Evening Standard reporter Oliver Finegold in February last year.
David Laverick, chairman of the disciplinary panel sitting in central London, said: "His treatment of the journalist was unnecessarily insensitive and offensive. He persisted with a line of comment likening the journalist's job to a concentration camp guard, despite being told that the journalist was Jewish and found it offensive to be asked if he was a German war criminal."
Mr Livingstone was not present at the hearing.
Mr Laverick said: "The reasonable onlooker would regard Mr Livingstone's reputation as being damaged as a result of the exchange. The case tribunal has also concluded that the remarks have also had the effect of damaging the reputation of his office of mayor."
Since Mr Livingstone lost the case he must pay his own costs - estimated at more than £80,000. He can appeal the decision at the High Court.
Sir Anthony Holland, chair of the Standards Board for England, said: "The public expects all elected members to conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach. It is right that the facts of this case have been aired and considered in public in this way."
Commenting on the ruling Evening Standard editor Veronica Wadley said: "The Evening Standard has always believed that Mr Livingstone should apologise for his remarks. There is no question that he caused offence to many Londoners by his comments, and his stubborn refusal to say sorry aggravated the position."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone later said of the tribunal result: "This decision strikes at the heart of democracy. Elected politicians should only be able to be removed by the voters or for breaking the law."
Not knowing local laws of England, assuming there are no 'impeachment' style protocols established, then much as I think the man a twit, his point I think is real.
OTOH it does raise the question what provisions are there for recall elections in London?
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