Yes, Ken Livingstone’s radio show has been dropped – but it’s nothing to do with Hitler or anti-Semitism

Last Updated: May 28, 2016By
Ken Livingstone has only appeared on LBC’s Saturday show as a guest in the wake of the antisemitism row [Image: Global/PA].

Ken Livingstone has only appeared on LBC’s Saturday show as a guest in the wake of the antisemitism row [Image: Global/PA].

It’s interesting how these stories get twisted, isn’t it?

This Writer heard last night (May 27) that Ken Livingstone’s contract was not being renewed by LBC radio – from someone who, rather hysterically, insisted it was because he kept talking about Hitler and anti-Semitism.

In fact, it turns out that the show he has hosted with Tory David Mellor since 2008 is being dropped and Mellor is out too. What did he say about Hitler?

Livingstone had appeared on the show only as a guest since the row over anti-Semitism erupted. He had been there specifically to answer questions about his part in it, so he couldn’t have helped mentioning Hitler and anti-Semitism, as my informant of last night must have known.

But the story got twisted anyway.

The Guardian, which provided the facts below, isn’t averse to twisting them either. The story goes on to claim “Labour suspended Livingstone in late April for ‘bringing the party into disrepute’ with its leader, Jeremy Corbyn, saying it was ‘not tolerating antisemitism in any form whatsoever’.”

The first part of that sentence is inaccurate. Livingstone was suspended on suspicion of bringing Labour into disrepute. His case will be discussed in an inquiry run by the former head of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti. No guilty has been proved.

So Chris Johnston of the Graun twisted the story. He should be reminded: Here in the UK, people are innocent until proven guilty.

Mr Corbyn’s words were spoken in general terms and were not specific to Livingstone. The two have been friends for a very long time.

Ken Livingstone’s Saturday morning radio show has been dropped by LBC in the wake of the controversy surrounding his recent claim that Adolf Hitler had supported Zionism.

The former mayor of London, who had presented the politics programme with David Mellor for the past eight years, denied that his comments had led to the radio station’s decision not to renew his contract this year.

LBC, which is owned by Global Radio, the UK’s largest commercial radio operator, has also decided not to renew Mellor’s contract.

Livingstone told the Guardian that LBC informed him in early April he could not present the two-hour Saturday morning show during the EU referendum campaign because of Ofcom impartiality rules.

Source: Ken Livingstone radio show is dropped by LBC | Politics | The Guardian

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14 Comments

  1. Christine Cullen May 28, 2016 at 2:37 pm - Reply

    Today that show was co-hosted with Peter Oborne who is now a Daily Mail columnist now he has left the Telegraph. With probably about 4 notable exceptions, LBC is generally very right wing in its choice of presenters especially the last few years. Nick Ferrari provides an audio presentation a la style of The Sun and frequently has me reaching for the off button.
    Increasingly I find I have to read the Guardian with a weather eye too.

    • John May 28, 2016 at 8:18 pm - Reply

      Yes, and LBC now has controversial Katie Hopkins on it now !

      • wildswimmerpete May 29, 2016 at 9:46 am - Reply

        @John
        Has Hopkins honoured her pledge that she would parade naked with a sausage stuffed up her derrière?

  2. Phil Woodford May 28, 2016 at 3:12 pm - Reply

    You live in hope of your pal Ken being saved, but I’m afraid he is history. Even people who voted for Corbyn last year won’t stomach him staying in the party.

    • Mike Sivier May 28, 2016 at 4:19 pm - Reply

      As I have made clear many times, I have no personal feelings for or against Ken Livingstone.
      My concern is to prevent an injustice being carried out.
      Why would Corbyn supporters, or anyone else, “not stomach him” remaining a member? He hasn’t done anything wrong.
      We would be better off ejecting John Mann.

      • Roy Beiley May 28, 2016 at 5:10 pm - Reply

        Definetly agree about Mann being ejected! Nothing seems to have happened so far though. Will it happen once Ken’s “case” has been done and dusted?

    • John May 28, 2016 at 8:22 pm - Reply

      Phil, if someone has done nothing wrong, why should they be ‘punished’ for it? And I can’t help but notice your use of the word ‘pal’, which I’ve got a strong feeling you’ve used in a nasty fashion.

  3. Catherine Cooper May 28, 2016 at 6:41 pm - Reply

    You are wrong Phil! Making up stories like the Guardian. I voted for Jeremy Corbyn to be the Labour Party leader and I hope to see Ken Livingstone reinstated asap. He has done and said nothing wrong, unlike John Mann who appeared to instigate the trouble, with the media present, to besmirch Ken’s name.

    • Phil Woodford May 29, 2016 at 9:13 am - Reply

      Sadly, Ken no longer has a ‘name’ left to besmirch. He is just a laughing stock and even an embarrassment to the coterie around Corbyn who were desperate to keep him off the airwaves. I write this with some sadness, as it was Livingstone who first attracted me into Labour Party politics in the early 1980s.

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