Ken Livingstone and ‘psychiatric help’ shadow minister should BOTH apologise

Last Updated: November 18, 2015By

There are no two ways about it: Mr Livingstone needs to apologise, even if he didn’t know about Kevan Jones and his psychiatric history.

Jeremy Corbyn has now demanded an apology, in any case.

But Mr Jones should also apologise. He should not have spoken publicly against Mr Livingstone’s appointment to the defence review.

One wonders why he did.

The row over Ken Livingstone’s appointment to Labour’s defence review has exploded after he said a shadow minister who criticised his appointment “might need some psychiatric help”.

Livingstone, the former mayor of London, made the comments about the shadow defence minister, Kevan Jones, who has suffered from depression.

Jones had questioned whether the anti-Trident Livingstone was the right person to lead the defence review with Maria Eagle, the shadow defence secretary, who has expressed support for renewing the nuclear deterrent.

Jones has in the past spoken publicly about suffering from mental illness in 1996.

“I think he might need some psychiatric help. He’s obviously very depressed and disturbed,” Livingstone told the Mirror. “He should pop off and see his GP before he makes these offensive comments.”

Jones said : “I find these comments gravely offensive not just personally but also to the many thousands who suffer from mental illness.”

Afterwards, Livingstone told the Evening Standard he had not been aware Jones had suffered from depression, and said he had never heard of him.

Source: Ken Livingstone says shadow minister ‘may need psychiatric help’ | Politics | The Guardian

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8 Comments

  1. Bookworm November 18, 2015 at 1:31 pm - Reply

    While msm has apologies on its radar how about some apologies to the families of dead benefit claimants and others accused of being scroungers?

  2. digger November 18, 2015 at 1:36 pm - Reply

    ahh THE poor little infilTRAITOR,if hes that sensitive then he shouldnt be in the dirty world of politics should he?

    • Mike Sivier November 18, 2015 at 1:39 pm - Reply

      Lot’s of politicians, on every level, can suffer from depression at one time or another, especially if they start out with good intentions. I wouldn’t attack anyone on the grounds of their mental health.

  3. che November 18, 2015 at 1:42 pm - Reply

    although IDS is a very sick man and should be vilified as much as possible

  4. mili68 November 18, 2015 at 9:13 pm - Reply

    Tweeted @melissacade68

  5. mili68 November 18, 2015 at 9:18 pm - Reply

    Mental Health is often a ‘hidden’ disability and more people are affected than others will ever comprehend. No one should be ridiculed via inflammatory and degrading comments whether they have a physical or mental disability not even if they don’t. Livingstone should not talk in such a discriminatory nor unsightful manner against anyone.

    • Mike Sivier November 19, 2015 at 1:36 am - Reply

      I agree.
      Do you also agree that Kevan Jones should not have spoken out in public against Livingstone’s appointment to this defence review, and that he should also apologise?

  6. bevchat November 19, 2015 at 9:38 am - Reply

    I think the pair of them should make their apologies to each other and be done with it…both were out of order and should not of got this far publicly…What they say in private is down to them…but when insults are thrown at each other publicly it just displays “school boy playground boorish antics”…I agree that mental health is a serious issue and perhaps Ken Livingstone should not of reacted in such a stupid
    manner. However,. Kevan Jones should not of spoken out publicly about Livingstone’s appointment so therefore should apologise…

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