BB FANS

Showbiz stars condemn mayor's suspension


Showbiz stars including former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker today condemned London Mayor Ken Livingstone’s suspension as an “outrage against democracy”.

Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller, poet Michael Rosen, artist Ralph Steadman and actress Susan Woolridge have also signed a letter of support.

Cocker is famed for his attack on Michael Jackson at the Brit Awards in 1996 when he ran on-stage, lifted up his shirt and wiggled his bottom at Jackson and the audience.

The bands Saint Etienne and The Futureheads, plus Billy Bragg, Chris Geddes of Belle And Sebastian and Sean Rowley of Guilty Pleasures are also backing Mr Livingstone.

In a joint statement they said: “This is the second time Ken Livingstone has been removed from the elected leadership of London government by people who have no mandate from Londoners. The first time was by Margaret Thatcher and now by this quango.

“It is astonishing that in a modern democracy an election can be overturned by three people who no one has ever heard of and who have not been elected by anyone.

“It is an outrage against democracy and it should be removed immediately.”

Others named on the statement include writer Susie Orbach, comic Arthur Smith, poet Carol Ann Duffy, musician Robert Wyatt and comedian Mark Thomas. breakingnews

Telegraph
(Filed: 28/02/2006)

A High Court judge has frozen the order suspending London mayor Ken Livingstone from office, pending his appeal of the controversial ruling.

Mr Livingstone is appealing his suspension

The mayor was due to begin his four-week suspension tomorrow for bringing his office into disrepute by comparing a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

But a judge, sitting in private, ruled in an 11th hour decision that Mr Livingstone was entitled to have the suspension frozen pending his statutory appeal.

Last Friday, a three-man committee of the Adjudication Panel for England unanimously found Mr Livingstone guilty of being "unnecessarily insensitive and offensive" to Evening Standard reporter Oliver Finegold.

The mayor's legal team will argue at the appeal, expected to take place later in March, that the tribunal's decision breaches his Article 8 right to private life under the European Convention on Human Rights.

His lawyers will also contend it contravenes his right to freedom of expression under Article 10 and the four-week suspension is an "inappropriate" sanction.

Even before any further legal action, Mr Livingstone faces a hefty bill for legal costs which tops £80,000.

But earlier today Mr Livingstone vowed to fight the case all the way to the House of Lords, if necessary, even though it could cost "hundreds of thousands of pounds" if he loses.