A Labour row exploded today when MPs and frontbenchers demanded Ken Livingstone apologise after saying a critic, who happens to have battled depression, needed “psychiatric help”.
It came just hours after he was appointed to a Trident review panel by Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr Livingstone, a known opponent of Trident, said Kevan Jones MP should “pop off and see his GP” after the shadow defence minister questioned his appointment.
Mr Jones, who revealed his depression to the Commons in 2012, hit back today saying the comments were “gravely offensive”.
Shadow health minister Luciana Berger said the remarks were “as bad as racism”. Under pressure, Mr Corbyn demanded Mr Livingstone apologise.
Mr Livingstone eventually told ITN that if Mr Corbyn wanted him to apologise, he would.
Earlier today Mr Jones had said giving the job to the former London Mayor would damage Labour’s credibility.
After hearing the criticism, Mr Livingstone said: “I think he 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.”
Even when told of Mr Jones’s struggle with depression, Mr Livingstone refused to withdraw the remarks or apologise and said Mr Jones should “get over it”.
Challenged over his comments by the Standard, Mr Livingstone refused to retract them and then went on radio where he declined to apologise.
He told the Standard: “I don’t know anything about [Mr Jones]. I’ve never heard of him, yet he was complaining about my defence appointment.
“It doesn’t matter what disorders he’s got, he doesn’t have the right to be rude, he doesn’t have the right to be constantly undermining Jeremy Corbyn, he should be working against the Conservative government.”
He later said to LBC: “If Kevan wants to apologise to me, then I will apologise. He needs to get over it.”
A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: “Jeremy is incredibly concerned that people with mental health problems shouldn’t be stigmatised.
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“He has worked with Kevan in the past on this issue and is impressed by his bravery in speaking out. Ken should apologise to him straight away.”
The row comes a day after Labour MPs condemned Mr Corbyn’s response to the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The Labour leader initially said he was “not happy” with a shoot-to-kill policy for terrorists, but under pressure from his own side later said he supports any “strictly necessary force” needed to protect citizens.
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