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Arawn-ap-Hywel · Mar 28, 2006, 01:47 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4853520.stm

Quote:

London mayor Ken Livingstone has been reported to a standards watchdog after likening the US ambassador in London to a "chiselling little crook".
Mr Livingstone made the comments during an interview about US diplomats failing to pay the £8-a-day congestion charge.

Civil liberties group Liberty and Law said it had reported the mayor to the Standards Board for England for breach of its code on three counts.

He is already appealing against a four week suspension for another comment.

The mayor attacked US ambassador Robert Tuttle after vowing he is prepared to go to court to make embassy staff pay the charge on vehicles entering central London.

The question is how much diplomatic immunity should there be between "Friendly" Nations?

Scribbler1 · Mar 28, 2006, 05:59 pm

Boy, that Livingstone can't seem to stay out of trouble, can he?

This is a tempest in a teapot, actually. Diplomats at the UN from all over the planet have been abusing their parking priveleges here in New York to the tune of millions of dollars for decades.

I agree it is wrong, but it is also widespread and fines and such should be respected by ALL diplomats. Still, if New York can't or won't do anything but the Brits can nail the American more power to them. Maybe jail him for a weekend for good measure.

**Matt W** · Mar 29, 2006, 09:26 am

I find it interesting that so often the people cry out for 'straight talking politicians', yet half the time when they do speak their mind, they're 'bringing the office of x into disrepute'. Catch-22....

Scribbler1 · Mar 29, 2006, 10:16 am

You could say Livingstone might be England's version of James Traficant (The Ohio Rep who used to criticize the government by saying "Beam me up Scotty.").

Mar 28, 2006, 05:59 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Scribbler1 Skeptical Patriot Posts: 7,746	Boy, that Livingstone can't seem to stay out of trouble, can he? This is a tempest in a teapot, actually. Diplomats at the UN from all over the planet have been abusing their parking priveleges here in New York to the tune of millions of dollars for decades. I agree it is wrong, but it is also widespread and fines and such should be respected by ALL diplomats. Still, if New York can't or won't do anything but the Brits can nail the American more power to them. Maybe jail him for a weekend for good measure. Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots. Last edited by Scribbler1; Mar 28, 2006 at 06:01 pm.

Mar 29, 2006, 09:26 am	#3 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 6,786	I find it interesting that so often the people cry out for 'straight talking politicians', yet half the time when they do speak their mind, they're 'bringing the office of x into disrepute'. Catch-22.... I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

Mar 29, 2006, 10:16 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
Scribbler1 Skeptical Patriot Posts: 7,746	You could say Livingstone might be England's version of James Traficant (The Ohio Rep who used to criticize the government by saying "Beam me up Scotty."). Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.