Labour’s failure to expel Ken Livingstone condemned by Bury branch

The local Labour Party branch in Bury South has passed a motion unanimously condemning the national party for not expelling former London mayor Ken Livingstone.

It follows a three-day party disciplinary hearing in April, during which a panel said his radio comments – suggesting Adolf Hitler was initially a supporter of Zionism – had brought the party into disrepute, but chose to suspend him, rather than expel him.

Members of Bury South Labour CLP made their views on that “deplorable” decision known on Thursday last week, saying: “Our Party can only be credible if it has a zero tolerance of racism.”

The CLP added: “This branch deplores the failure of the party to expel Ken Livingstone over his anti-Semitic remarks that have caused so much distress to our community, in particular its Jewish members. We call on the National Executive Committee to do so.”

Cllr Jane Black, chair of the north-west region of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: “It is comforting to know that the Bury South CLP stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Jewish community in opposing all forms of anti-Semitism. Zero tolerance must mean zero tolerance, and I’m proud the north-west is leading this fight.”