Livingstone's Bush comments condemned

Friday, 9 May 2003 12:00 AM

The Mayor of London's comments about President George Bush being 'corrupt' have been widely condemned.

Speaking to an audience of school children visiting City Hall yesterday, The Mayor, Ken Livingstone reportedly accused the President of the US of being a 'coward' for not fighting in the Vietnam War.

Mr Livingstone commented, "You have got this super-patriotic hawk who was a coward when his country was actually involved in a war which he politically supported."

The Mayor continued, "I think George Bush is the most corrupt American president since Harding in the Twenties. He is not the legitimate president."

Mr Livingstone went on to say that he looked forward to the day when the 'completely unsupportable Government' of Mr Bush was overthrown as much as he 'looked forward to Saddam Hussein being overthrown'.

The Mayor's outspoken attack was condemned by the Conservative's Mayoral Candidate, Steven Norris for being 'utterly irresponsible'.

Mr Norris stated, "I'm afraid this is typical Livingstone . . . It is utterly irresponsible for the Mayor to mouth off about the US President at a time when we need to do all we can to attract back American tourists."

The concern about the Mayor's comments on the number of tourists coming to the capital from America were echoed by the Liberal Democrat's Candidate for London Mayor, Simon Hughes.

Mr Hughes added, "Just one week before London launches a campaign to bring more tourists to our city, particularly Americans, London's Mayor has undermined these efforts to make them welcome. Mayors of London should promote the capital and attract people to it, not make enemies."

Officials for the American Embassy in London issued a statement where they claimed that the Mayor's comments were unimportant.
"Mayor Livingstone's opinions about the United States are a matter of complete indifference to the American embassy, the American government and the American people," the statement commented.

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