Abracadabrah<br><br><i> I create as I speak</i>: A Dose of Schaudenfreude

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

A Dose of Schaudenfreude

I don't really approve of these nanny state politically correct laws in Britain.

But since they've already been enacted...well, good:

Ken Livingstone is to face a disciplinary hearing for likening a Jewish reporter to a Nazi concentration camp guard, it was announced today.

The London Mayor is to appear before the independent Adjudication Panel for England to face allegations that he failed to treat others with respect or brought his office into disrepute, the Standards Board for England (SBE), the local government watchdog, said.

Mr Livingstone could be banned from office for five years, told to make an apology, be suspended or censured or made to undergo training if the panel decide he has breached the Greater London Authority code of conduct. The public hearing could take place in early December.

A spokesman said: "The Standards Board for England can confirm that a report of its ethical standards officer's investigation into allegations that the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, failed to treat others with respect and brought his authority into disrepute has been issued today.

"The ethical standards officer has concluded that the issue should now be considered at a hearing held by the independent Adjudication Panel for England."

The Board of Deputies of British Jews referred the matter to the watchdogs in February after a confrontation between Mr Livingstone and a reporter from London's Evening Standard at a gay and lesbian reception at City Hall.

The journalist, Oliver Finegold, approached guests leaving the event, including the Mayor, but Mr Livingstone told the reporter after learning that he was Jewish that he was "just like a concentration camp guard. You're just doing it because you're paid to, aren't you?"

Mr Livingstone came under fire after refusing to apologise, despite calls from the Jewish community, concentration camp survivors and other politicians, but he refused to alter his position.

Mr. Livingstone argues it wasn't anti-semitism motivating him. Of course not. He was just being rude to a journalist. And insulting him in a way that was target specific for Jews.

Frankly I'm holding out for sensitivity training...wouldn't that be amusingly karmic.