Ken branded 'a vulgar embarrassment' in new gay storm - Mayor - News - Evening Standard
       

Ken branded 'a vulgar embarrassment' in new gay storm

Ken Livingstone was engulfed in a fresh row over "offensive" comments about homosexuality today after claiming gay bankers would have their penises cut off in Dubai.

There were calls for Labour leader Ed Miliband to disown the party's London mayoral candidate over the comments, made to dismiss claims that bankers could flee London for the Gulf. "A gay banker would get his penis cut off in Dubai," Mr Livingstone said.

Earlier this week he said the Tory Party was "riddled" with gay and lesbian people.
Dubai diplomatic sources called the latest claim "ridiculous", but there was no official comment from the Gulf state, where homosexuality is illegal.

Gay Tory minister Alan Duncan said: "He is divisive, vulgar, and an embarrassment to his party and the country."

But a spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: "Cutting fares and protecting police are the real issues, not trivia."

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