Ken Livingstone on anti-semitism smears and Jeremy Corbyn's mistake

Exclusive interview with former Mayor of London, MP and Labour NEC member Ken Livingstone.

[charlielynes]

It was an organised campaign. What exactly did Priti Patel discuss in the secret Israeli meetings that caused her to lose her job? She didn't care because she knew what the future held for her, the party and the current leadership.

[tiggtiggs]

The only politician I can trust to tell the truth is Jeremy Corbyn.

[UKroger]

Very good to see Ken Livingstone! And thanks for the GLC coup, and the 2 terms as London Mayor! Just shows what an enlightened idealistic and pragmatic politician can achieve...

[ChrisHutchison]

"Jeremy should have suspended [John Mann] and reinstated me, and suspended the general secretary". Hindsight is a wonderful thing. But foresight even better.

[patm]

"Starmer is not right-wing"? 'Sir' Keir for services rendered to the right-wing Establishment when he was Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Crown Prosecution Service which advised undercover police officers on how to infiltrate leftwing campaign groups via a “domestic extremism” specialist. As part of this operation, numerous undercover agents broke the law, gave false evidence in court and formed sexual relationships with activists in order to spy on them. He didn't prosecute the police officers who killed Jean Charles de Menezes and Ian Tomlinson. Evidence strongly suggests Charles de Menezes was about to reveal information about the London tube bombings. He's a very willing puppet of the right-wing Establishment and this totally corrupt system based on greed, privilege, gross injustices against the poor, sick, vulnerable, desperately trying to fool Labour supporters he's on their side. He supports the persecution of Assange for exposing war crimes. He's an ardent supporter of the brutal Israeli apartheid regime. He's is a member of the right-wing neo-con Trilateral Commission. What's Ken's definition of right-wing?

[Nine-Signs]

My heart is still broken. What little hope I had left, that ember, was almost out before Jeremy came along, those after him have extinguished it.

[DavidBrown-rmnz]

John Mann has a lot to answer for his attack on Ken. And being given a seat in the HOL is discusting.

[martinwatson]

The AS smear may not have been a conspiracy but when it was coordinated like with the mass shadow front bench resignations then what’s the difference? WhatsApp made it easy.

[chrisgriffin]

My advice to Jeremy corbyn, start that peace and justice party and to quote Braveheart "if you would just lead them, they will follow you and so would I"

[talhandaq]

JC too nice to have laughed off the orchestrated media anti semitic nonsense and to have dealt robustly, as Ken says, with new Labour traitors. Galloway would have made a good bulldog chum/adviser. All too late now as Tory Labour deservedly faces big financial problems as unions realise it's not for the likes of their members.

[terrydeans]

All due respect to Ken and his vast experience. Im one of the Corbynist joiners in 2015. Never voted in my lifetime, ex RN Falklands War veteran and born and raised in the sectarian conflict in N Ireland.

I voted first time aged 55 at locals and my 1st at GE2017.

I think Ken is misjudging the effect that Corbyn had on raising people's hopes when comparing it with the other times lefties stayed to fight from within.

Nor has he appreciated, in my opinion and experience, the weight of intent by the establishment to destroy Jeremy. From what I understand of it I see huge differences between the threat posed by socialism in the past and during the Corbyn era. Plus I think they have a long, documented history of ruthless brutality which I doubt Ken aggravated too much in his London mayor job.

I was a bit disappointed in this interview. Seemed like he was doing it out of a sense of duty or maybe just respect for Crispin and the audience he reaches. Or maybe there are personal reasons. But he seemed to want to be brief and not get too drawn into much elaboration or give much that could prompt deeper debate and exploration

[tiggtiggs]

Starmer is as LW as Thatcher's greatest achievement; Tory Blair & Neo-Liberal Labour.

[naxieysadventures]

I think Jeremy would be a great prime minister but he came at the wrong time. He is not an election winner, he is someone who demonstrates kindness. To get someone like Jeremy in we need to kick the tories out, than we need to change the voting system to something that actually represents the majority of hte people instead of the first past the post rubbish we have, Than following that we need to get someone like him in power.

[annenunney]

I don’t ever remember Jeremy making a mistake I remember lots of people media some labour mp tories making lots of mistakes and how badly they let Jeremy down and the people of this country I would never vote labour again

[bridgetveldhuis]

So sorry to hear the news of Ken's diagnosis. I really hope his socialist friends continue to inspire Ken and explore politics with him. 🙏🫶

[jcoprario]

A good recent discussion of this on Complaints on a Plate's channel with Heather Mendick

[paulhart]

Labour will never get another left leader. The party rules have made sure of that

[johnpatterson]

Least inspiring interviewer ever. But Ken is admirably down to earth.

[mick]

It wasn’t an organised conspiracy? It staggers me that after all Ken’s been through he still won’t defend himself vigorously and he still believes that labour is a force for good. It’s time for a new party or system.

[redemrys]

There have been some sneering comments about Jeremy Corbyn here. Let me tell those people that there is not a socialist in this land who fail to defend him now.