Ken Livingstone: 'I might be a Jew'

Defence: Ken Livingstone
Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
Laura Proto16 June 2016

Ken Livingstone has claimed he might be Jewish just days before he is due to appear in front of MPs over an anti-Semitism row.

The former Mayor of London told the Jewish Chronicle that he may have Jewish ancestors on his mother’s side of the family.

He then went on to claim he had conversations about his possible Jewish ancestry with former Labour MP Lord Janner, who died before facing prosecution over alleged child sex offences.

Mr Livingstone said: “Greville Janner used to drive me home from the House of Commons at night. We would chat away about the Middle East.

“He would speculate about whether or not I was Jewish because my grandmother’s name was Zona.

“I have lots of Jewish friends and I always have. I have had members of the Board of Deputies round for parties.”

Mr Livingstone, who was suspended from the Labour Party after claiming Hitler supported Zionism, also claimed that he had been stopped by Jewish supporters who agreed with his views.

He said: “They tell me they’re Jewish. They say: “We know what you said was true, don’t give in”.”

The politician, who is a close ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, denied claims that he was “obsessed” with Nazi history and said he had not read Mein Kampf.

He said: “I have never seen the Nazi manifesto. If I would have seen it, I would have read it.

“If anyone actually wants to send me a copy of it…”

Mr Livingstone’s comments came after he appeared before the House of Commons select affairs committee on Tuesday for an inquiry into anti-Semitism.

Ahead of his appearance, he released a written statement stating: “I detest racism and condemn anti-Semitism.

“Indeed my political career has totally opposed any such views concerning any religious or ethnic group."

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