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.”
More from LabourList
John Healey: ‘Here’s why Labour is the real party of defence’
‘After the locals, Labour must show on Gaza it truly understands voter anger’
Reeves: New Deal consultation will prevent ‘adverse consequences’