Labour's Love Of Livingstone Will Cost Them Both Dear - Hughes

11.20.07am GMT Tue 16th Dec 2003

Commenting on the news that Ken Livingstone has applied to rejoin Labour, so that he can stand as their candidate in the London Mayoral election, Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes MP said:- "Mr Livingstone was suspended from the Labour Party because he broke his word and stabbed them in the back. If integrity and consistency do mean anything to Labour then they should not go back on their promise to suspend Mr Livingstone. Instead the Mayor should serve his suspension and Labour should stick to its principles."

"With a party that has gone back on its word, Mr Livingstone and Labour should not expect widespread support from the public in the London Mayoral elections next year. They cannot expect to be credible if it has one process and one candidate one year and another the next."

"Ken Livingstone and Labour lost his former seat of Brent East and this shows Londoners which party is in the best position to beat them in the Mayoral election."