Blair: 'Livingstone should apologise'

Tony Blair today called on London Mayor Ken Livingstone to apologise for making offensive remarks to a Jewish journalist.

Tony Blair today called on London Mayor Ken Livingstone to apologise for making offensive remarks to a Jewish journalist.

The Prime Minister said: "A lot of us in politics get angry with journalists from time to time but in the circumstances, and to the journalist because he was a Jewish journalist, yes he should apologise.

"Let's just apologise and move on - that's the sensible thing."

Mr Blair called on Mr Livingstone to say sorry as an inspection team from the International Olympic committee began a four-day tour to assess the capital's bid for the 2012 Games.

He was answering public questions during an appearance on Channel Five's The Wright Stuff programme.

Mr Livingstone said on Tuesday that any call for an apology from Mr Blair would fail.

He said: "(When) I went back to the Labour Party he made it absolutely clear it was my job to do my job.

"He has no intention of making me Foreign Secretary and we have our respective roles. He is not there to manage me. He is not answerable to my mistakes or successes. We are judged separately and independently."

Bob Neill, leader of the London Assembly Conservatives, said: "Given that the IOC is in town, every hour that goes by without an apology is another hour of damage to London's Olympic bid.

"Now that Mr Blair has publicly asked Livingstone to apologise, if that apology is not forthcoming, the Prime Minister should ensure that his party takes disciplinary action against the Mayor within the week."