Antisemitic former Labour MP and mayor of London Ken Livingstone has reportedly failed in his bid to go from “Red Ken” to “Green.”
Ken Livingstone’s application to join the Green Party has been refused, Jewish News understands.
The former London Mayor – who quit Labour three years ago in a row about his comments on Zionism and the Nazis – confirmed he had applied to join the Greens in an interview last month.
It is understood that Livingstone was interviewed by the party and expressed a wish to join them and become a high-profile figure in the party.
Sources claim that at one stage the 76 year-old even made suggestions he could stand as a candidate for the Mayor of London election again.
But party insiders say Livingstone was grilled about his views on antisemitism – along with his desire to make amends over his spectacular fall-out with the Jewish community.
Speaking to the Guardian last month, Livingtone said “I never met anyone in the Green party I didn’t like. I will apply to join them [the Greens].
He said he had already had earlier talks with several senior party members in which he outlined “how much I wanted to join and what I’d do” but he never received a response.
Livingstone added his suspicion is that the party “thought that if they brought me in they’d be accused of being antisemitic”.
Like no-one would have accused them of being antisemitic already.
