Ken Livingstone faces another investigation – this time from Labour's ruling body

Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is facing another investigation into his conduct, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn revealed on Wednesday (5 March).

The party's ruling body, the National Executive Committee, will hold an emergency meeting to discuss Livingstone's "comments and actions" after a disciplinary panel suspended him for another year for claiming Nazi leader Adolf Hitler supported Zionism in the 1930s.

"Ken Livingstone's comments have been grossly insensitive, and he has caused deep offence and hurt to the Jewish community," Corbyn said.

"Labour's independently-elected National Constitutional Committee has found Ken guilty of bringing the party into disrepute and suspended him for two years.

"It is deeply disappointing that, despite his long record of standing up to racism, Ken has failed to acknowledge or apologise for the hurt he has caused. Many people are understandably upset that he has continued to make offensive remarks which could open him to further disciplinary action."

He added: "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."

The statement from the Labour leader was issued amid a backlash over the National Constitutional Committee's decision not to expel Livingstone.

Joe Glasman, head of political and government investigations at the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism, told IBTimes UK that the disciplinary panel's ruling was a "kick in the teeth".

"It's been a long period now where Jews have been waiting, fighting to hear the Labour Party reverse some of its rhetoric about Jews and to act firmly and decisively on anti-Semitism.

"The Labour Party had some sort of means of redemption to show that the tide was turning."