Ken Livingstone statement on Tower Hamlets mayoral race

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

Responding to the controversy over his appearance with independent candidate Lutfur Rahman yesterday, Ken Livingstone has released the following statement:

“I am disappointed by the way the NEC handled the selection in Tower Hamlets and I am sure that under Ed Miliband’s leadership things would have been handled differently.”

“However, my position is clear: I fully support Labour candidates in all elections and I am calling for Tower Hamlets residents to use their first preference vote for our candidate Helal Abbas.”

“A second preference should be used for Lutfur Rahman to keep the Tories out.”