Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, has been quoted as saying that a Labour MP, Kevan Jones, was “disturbed”, “might need some psychiatric help” and should “see his GP”. Jones has a history of depression. Livingstone initially refused to say sorry, then offered a string of half-hearted apologies, before finally being forced by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to issue an “unreserved” apology. Here’s the full sorry saga:
10.50am on Wednesday: Mirror reports Livingstone’s offensive comments
Livingstone criticise s Jones, a shadow defence minister, with the highly personal attack referring to his mental health. Jones has spoken in the Commons about his battle with depression.
It comes after Jones questioned Livingstone’s appointment to Labour’s defence review, which will examine whether the party should support the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme.
Livingstone, who was appointed by Labour’s national executive committee, tells the Mirror:
I think he [Jones] might need some psychiatric help. He’s obviously very depressed and disturbed … He should pop off and see his GP before he makes these offensive comments.
11.30am on LBC – sorry seems to be the hardest word
With a backlash against his comments in full swing, Livingstone refuses to say sorry four times on LBC, and says:
He was rude about me, I was rude back to him. He needs to get over it.
He tells LBC: “If he wants to apologise, that’s fine.”
When the LBC presenter, James O’Brien, asks if Livingstone would have made the comments had he known Jones had mental health issues, the former London mayor says: “Of course I wouldn’t have done.”
When given another opportunity to apologise, Livingstone says: “Don’t wait for it.”
Later on Sky News – Livingstone refuses to apologise again
Livingstone tells the news channel:
We’re all sick and tired of these Labour MPs undermining the leadership. Kevan Jones and others have got to stop doing that.
1.30pm on BBC World at One: ‘If he’s upset, I’m sorry’
By this point, Livingstone says sorry if Jones is “upset” by his remarks. But Livingstone insists he is not to blame for the row.
Ken Livingstone on comments about shadow minister Kevan Jones: "I no idea he had any mental health issues. If he's upset I'm sorry". #wato
— The World at One (@BBCWorldatOne) November 18, 2015
He says:
I had no idea he had any mental health issues otherwise I would never have said it.
If he is upset, I’m sorry, but he can’t blame me. He was the one that came out and made this attack on me and questioned my competence to do this job.
I just think it is time Labour MPs stopped undermining Jeremy Corbyn’s decisions and his appointments.
He adds:
I grew up in south London. If someone was rude to you, you were rude back to them. I didn’t go to Eton and get all that smarmy, charming education, I’m afraid.
1.40pm on ITV News: a terse apology
In an interview with Chris Ship of ITV News, Livingstone reiterates that he was unaware that Jones had suffered from depression.
Ken Livingstone offers terse 'apology' to Labour MP Kevan Harris after mental health jibe https://t.co/zuCOLLckfO pic.twitter.com/Av2LPxRU0Q
— ITV News (@itvnews) November 18, 2015
He says:
I haven’t been a member of parliament for 15 years and since this influx I had no idea that he had. If I had known that I wouldn’t have done it.
When he is pressed on whether he could compare the two insults exchanged – one about mental health and the other about competence to do a job – Livingstone says:
I can. I find it extremely annoying somebody who’s had no dealings with you whatsoever criticises my ability to do a job after a very successful career and 45 years in public life.
1.50pm: an ‘unreserved’ apology on Twitter
Less than three hours after his LBC interview, and after a spokesman for Corbyn makes his displeasure clear, Livingstone says he’s sorry – and this time he means it. He acknowledges that, under Corbyn’s leadership, this is not the sort of politics the party wants:
1/2 I unreservedly apologise to Kevan Jones for my comments. They should not have been made at all, let alone in this context.
— Ken Livingstone (@ken4london) November 18, 2015
2/2 I also make this apology because Jeremy is right to insist on a more civil politics and as a party we should take this seriously
— Ken Livingstone (@ken4london) November 18, 2015
