London mayor challenges suspension

12 April 2012

London Mayor Ken Livingstone has attacked a finding that he had breached a local authority code of conduct when he made a Nazi jibe to a Jewish reporter.

A three-man committee of the Adjudication Panel for England unanimously found Mr Livingstone guilty of being "unnecessarily insensitive and offensive" in comparing Jewish Evening Standard newspaper reporter Oliver Finegold to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

But on Wednesday James Maurici, appearing for the Mayor, told a High Court judge the finding was "wholly untenable".

The panel decided in February that Mr Livingstone was in breach of the Greater London Authority (GLA) code of conduct and should be suspended for four weeks. The suspension order was frozen pending the outcome of Wednesday's hearing.

The code states that a member must not in his official capacity, or in any other circumstance, conduct himself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing his office or authority into disrepute.

As Mr Livingstone arrived at London's High Court for the hearing, he commented on "the lovely weather", adding: "I have total confidence in British justice.

"It is always a pleasure to come before the court."

In court, Mr Maurici described to Mr Justice Collins how Mr Livingstone had become embroiled in his current problems after he was approached, while off duty, by Mr Finegold, who was "doorstepping" a reception at City Hall marking 20 years since former Culture Secretary Chris Smith became Britain's first openly-gay MP.

Mr Livingstone asked Mr Finegold, who was accompanied by a photographer, whether he had ever been a "German war criminal".

On hearing that Mr Finegold was Jewish, the Mayor likened him to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

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