LABOUR is to launch a new probe into Ken Livingstone's behaviour in the wake of his suspension from the party over controversial comments regarding Adolf Hitler and Zionism, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
After a decision not to expel Mr Livingstone provoked uproar among MPs and senior members of the shadow cabinet, Mr Corbyn said the party's National Executive Committee would investigate the ex-London mayor's comments since the disciplinary decision was announced.
A defiant Mr Livingstone insisted he had simply been telling the truth and warned he would take legal action against the party if it tried to exclude him.
Mr Corbyn told the Press Association: "I think what he said was unacceptable and was offensive to the community.
"I'm asking him to apologise for offences he has caused but also to desist from this public debate on these issues and recognise that we need to oppose anti-Semitism, as we do any form of racism."
But Mr Livingstone hit back, telling LBC radio: "If then there is another hearing, it does expel me, it will go for judicial review and it will be resolved in a court which is open to the press and public unlike these Labour disciplinary things which take place in private."
He said Mr Corbyn had launched the new investigation after coming under pressure from "forces inside and outside the Labour Party" angered by the ruling that he should be suspended for another year rather than expelled altogether.
"There is undoubtedly a lot of pressure. You have had not just Labour MPs but the Chief Rabbi all denouncing this decision," he said.
"The simple fact is I am sure there has been a lot of pressure on Jeremy from forces inside and outside the Labour Party saying 'We don't like the result the committee came to'."
In a statement, Mr Corbyn, a long-time ally of the ex-mayor, said it was "deeply disappointing" Mr Livingstone had failed to acknowledge or apologise for the hurt his comments had caused.
"Many people are understandably upset that he has continued to make offensive remarks which could open him to further disciplinary action.
"Since initiating the disciplinary process, I have not interfered with it and respect the independence of the party's disciplinary bodies.
"But Ken's subsequent comments and actions will now be considered by the National Executive Committee after representations from party members."
