Ken Loach's Defence Of Livingstone Splits Opinion
7 April 2017, 16:32 | Updated: 7 April 2017, 17:44
This is the intense exchange between Shelagh Fogarty and film director Ken Loach about Ken Livingstone that got quite testy - and sparked a big reaction online.
The left wing director and activist joined Shelagh in the studio to promote a Momentum event called Take Back Control which aims to "bring together Leave and Remain voters...and discuss how voters can take back control from economic elites and establishment politicians".
During their discussion, Shelagh asked Loach about Jeremy Corbyn's leadership and the uproar in recent days over Ken Livingstone's role in the party.
He didn't hold back in defending the former London Mayor.
"To talk about expelling someone for interpreting [Hitler's] actions 70 years, 80 years later is very dubious and I think, in the general discussion, there hasn't been this precise examination of what was said and the different interpretations of that.
"What I'm appalled by, is this, what smacks of a witch hunt.
"Ken Livingstone did more for good race relations during his time as Mayor as anyone else has ever done...I wouldn't rush to judge, to condemn him."
Shelagh wanted to press the point with Loach about what Livingstone had said and you can see more of the interview above. It certainly split opinion on Twitter:
Ken Loach sailing DANGEROUSLY close to the wind in his defence of Ken Livingstone on LBC. Says "interests" of Jews and Hitler "coincided".
— Richard Suchet (@RichSuchet) April 7, 2017
@KenLoachSixteen Just heard you on @LBC Thank you ! So good to hear a reasoned non rabid zionist discussing the #KenLivingstone case
— Gaza Boat Convoy (@gazaboatconvoy) April 7, 2017
@ShelaghFogarty Ken Loach, defender of Ken Livingstone, when you're in a hole stop digging.
— Hilton Teper (@Hilton_T) April 7, 2017
Hilton Teper,
St. Albans.
Sadly, that's what you just heard happening to Ken Loach as he struggled to defend Livingstone's anti-Semitism with @ShelaghFogarty @LBC https://t.co/siCf2RgSg8
— Incorrigible FCA (@ImIncorrigible) April 7, 2017
@KenLoachSixteen great interview from you on @ShelaghFogarty slot on @LBC the silence was deafening
— (@GenMD73) April 7, 2017
@KenLoachSixteen was absolutely superb on @LBC. Showing the #KenLivingstone witch hunt for what it is, Newmark et al are truly evil
— Lara Danny K (@Lara_Collins11) April 7, 2017
Watch the clip and make your own mind up - let us know in the comments what you think.
