Livingstone told to explain 'cover up' over party fracas

Ken Livingstone's political future hung in the balance last night after fresh allegations that his office tried to cover up an angry scuffle with a man at a party.

The London Assembly said yesterday it would summon him to an emergency meeting next week to explain himself. It could then refer the matter to the Standards Board for England, which has the power to suspend a public office holder for up to one year and bar a person from office for five years.

A senior Labour source also said last night that Mr Livingstone's chances of being readmitted to the party were now under serious threat. "He's in deep trouble," the source said.

Mr Livingstone's problems centre on an unprecedented personal statement he issued on Wednesday. The statement denied allegations that he had "manhandled" his pregnant partner Emma Beal or had assaulted Robin Hedges, a friend of hers, at a birthday party.

He said that the claims, made by the Evening Standard, were "untrue" and added that the newspaper was motivated by a political plot to replace him with a Tory.

But Mr Hedges issued his own full account of the events for the first time yesterday in which he alleged that he had suffered serious injuries after Mr Livingstone had pushed him off a 15ft wall.

Claiming the Mayor was angry with Ms Beal for smoking at the party, Mr Hedges further claimed that he was pressured by Ms Beal into issuing a statement initially declaring that the fall had been an accident.

He claimed that the Mayor was "uncontrollable". "The last memory I have is of Ken's arm lunging towards me. I woke up in A&E", Mr Hedges told the Evening Standard.

Mr Hedges makes it clear that Mr Livingstone was "scuffling" with his pregnant partner while her sister Kate looked on. "I heard Kate say, 'Don't hit my sister'. Kate and others were just pushing Ken out of the door and shutting the door on him," he said.

"Like everybody else, I just wanted to calm Ken down and protect Emma, as we were all worried about her safety."

Coming at a crucial time for Mr Livingstone, with the Labour Party considering whether to readmit him, the allegations have divided members of the London Assembly.

Liberal Democrats said that the claims were a matter for the standards committee, while the Labour group was understood to be split over taking any action.

However, Trevor Philips, the Labour chairman of the Assembly, made it clear last night that the meeting would go ahead next Wednesday.

Mr Philips said last night: "The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Mayor's statement to the Assembly on 19 June in the light of subsequent reports challenging the veracity of his explanation."

Under Greater London Authority rules, only four members are needed to call such a meeting and summon the Mayor before it. The Assembly has no powers to remove the Mayor but in hauling Mr Livingstone before it, its influence could be crucial.

It is understood that the Evening Standard has affidavits from Mr Hedges to support his allegations, which also include claims that he heard Ms Beal's sister say at the party: "Don't hit my sister".

Eric Ollerenshaw, leader of the GLA Conservatives, said: "We have made a concerted effort not to get involved in the Mayor's private life to date and this policy will continue. However, in light of today's Evening Standard interview with Robin Hedges, this issue is no longer about the Mayor's private life, instead it is about the trust and credibility of the Mayor.

"It now seems that the statement the Mayor gave to the London Assembly was inaccurate," he said.

The Labour MP and former ally of Mr Livingstone, Tony Banks, said last night: "It would not be the first time that Ken has not told the complete truth.

"Ken did not stand any chance before of being readmitted into the Labour Party before the five-year disqualification was up, but I don't think this episode will help his cause any further."