STUBBORN LIVINGSTONE DOES NOT BEHAVE LIKE A STATESMAN

11.35.01am GMT Tue 22nd Feb 2005

Commenting on Ken Livingstone's refusal at his weekly press conference to offer an apology for his comments to a reporter outside City Hall, Liberal Democrat London Assembly member and Deputy Chair of the London Assembly, Sally Hamwee, said:

"Ken Livingstone does not behave like a statesman.

"The Mayor is attempting to turn himself into a victim rather than the offender.

"Mr Livingstone's attempts to justify his comments compound its offensiveness. None of us who did not live under the Nazi regime can understand its horrors. To describe being hounded by a newspaper, for however long, as in any way equivalent to that persecution is extraordinary.

"A withdrawal of these comments and an apology, however late, would have salvaged some credit and showed that he cared for the reputation of London government and was able to act as the senior politician the mayoralty requires."

ends