Ken Livingstone makes 'unreserved' apology for 'psychiatric help' comment

Ken Livingstone has "unreservedly" apologised for suggesting a shadow defence minister who criticised him needed "psychiatric help".
Kevan Jones - who has suffered with depression - said the comments were "gravely offensive".
Mr Livingstone initially refused to apologise despite being urged to do so by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who had just given him a new policy role.

But he has now tweeted that the comments should not have been made.

Mr Corbyn's decision to appoint the former London mayor as joint chair of Labour's defence review sparked an angry backlash from pro-Trident Labour MPs, with shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle reported to be "furious".

Ms Eagle, who was leading the review, said she was not consulted before Mr Livingstone was made her co-chair - the pair hold opposing views on Britain's nuclear weapons.

Undermined leadership'

Junior defence minister Kevan Jones questioned whether Mr Livingstone knew anything about defence, prompting the former mayor to tell the Daily Mirror Mr Jones was "obviously very depressed and disturbed" and "should see a GP".

Mr Livingstone tweeted his apology after refusing to say sorry during interviews.
"I unreservedly apologise to Kevan Jones for my comments. They should not have been made at all, let alone in this context," he said.

"I also make this apology because Jeremy [Corbyn] is right to insist on a more civil politics and as a party we should take this seriously".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34853430



I'm no fan of Livingstone but honestly!! It's a throwaway comment! Again, people being pussies about simple little throwaway comments.
We will often say to people "Are you bonkers?" "Are you mad??" It's a saying, and not meant to insult someone.
This guy who's moaned seriously needs to get his little pissy nappies back on and stick a dummy in his mouth and wait for mummy.

What a fuss over nothing.
Again.

No eddie whilst I agree that te comment in itself is "throwaway" and hence not worth the fuss, the PRINCIPLES behind it are immense

this exposes the lefty hypocrisy and the dual values they hold and as such needed bringing to acount....

If anyone else said similar there would be cries of "bigot" from the lefty, they can hardly complain when they get such things thrown back at them when THEY do it

the Left love the "sixhirb" debate stoppers and such attempts at bludgeoning free speech into submission....

about time they tasted a bit of it themselves

moreover the fact that it took "orders from above to make the twat apologise is surely indicative of the nasty vindictve nature of this creature livingstone...

he exposes what the "hard left " is like....thugs in suits...little different to the thugs in jeans that inhabit the far Right....

Well this is your problem with the left but take the fact that it's a political party or labour, and it's just kids in a playground.

PC gone mad again

Ps do you need psychiatric help???

no edds...I'm beyond redemption

Lord Foul wrote:no edds...I'm beyond redemption

Well that's why I like you. I cannot abide boring people

Just because someone didn't agree with his views why should Livingstone think it's OK to hurl insults about?
Whether he knew Kevan Jones suffered with depression or not it was still a pathetic attempt to belittle the man....big fail.

It says a damn site more about him than the person he was addressing.