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Ken Livingstone was given a £20,000 free trip to the Olympics by the Chinese government.
The former Mayor was flown business class to Beijing and stayed in a £1,100-a-night hotel — then defended the communist regime's human rights record.
Today he was unrepentant at accepting the all-expenses-paid trip, along with his Trotskyite former economics adviser John Ross, which saw the pair given VIP seats for last week's spectacular opening ceremony.
He refused to say whether he had used a programme of meetings with top-level Chinese officials, including the country's finance minister, to question their records on human rights.
Mr Livingstone told the Standard that China was “going in the right direction" on human rights.
He had already insisted on BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the country was not a police state. And speaking on LBC, he played down the Tiananmen Square massacre, saying: “The idea that we have not had similar problems in our past is nonsense."
The city authority of Beijing, which is part of the Chinese regime, paid for the ex-mayor and Mr Ross to stay in the five-star Westin hotel, where the cheapest room during Olympics fortnight, including taxes, costs 9,775 yuan (£763) per night. Mr Livingstone is believed to have stayed in a room costing 14,375 yuan (£1,122) a night.
His room came with a “rainforest shower", a “heavenly bed" and the services of a “bath master" who, in the words of the hotel, “will prepare your bath and fill it with rejuvenating oils".
Mr Livingstone and Mr Ross's flights were worth at least £5,000 each.
Mr Ross, of the Trotskyite splinter group Socialist Action, was one of eight former Livingstone aides who picked up a total of £1.6 million for losing their jobs when he lost the mayoral election.
The pair have returned to London but their trip, including at least three nights accommodation, is estimated to have cost the Chinese just under £20,000.
Mr Livingstone admitted “everything" in his trip had been financed by Chinese authorities and said he had been approached by the Chinese Embassy. “I got an invite from the embassy saying 'We'd like to invite you', and I said, I think people wouldn't understand that.' And they came back and said, No, no, we really think [you should come] because of the work you did with us on the Olympics'," he said.
Mayor Boris Johnson is to arrive in Beijing next week to take possession of the Olympic torch at the closing ceremony. His trip is funded by London taxpayers, but the size of his party and the grade of his hotel has been reduced and he will fly economy.
Mr Livingstone said he thought he had been invited because the Chinese recognised him as a person “who might have some influence in the future".
He criticised the scaling-down of the London presence in Beijing, saying the small saving would cost London considerable investment opportunities. “If I had been Mayor I would have stayed for the whole three weeks," he said.
Asked whether he had raised the issue of human rights with his hosts, Mr Livingstone said: “I regard matters like that as private matters. Why should they take any notice of a country which launched an illegal war and which cooperates with extraordinary rendition?"
Greg Hands, the Tory MP for Hammersmith-Fulham, said he was “appalled" by Mr Livingstone's arrangements. “Maybe Ken was too busy campaigning for re-election to notice the massacre in Tibet," he said.
“I was surprised to hear him defending the Chinese government, but now I find out who was paying his fare it's not so surprising."
Reader views (33)
Well Mark, he did try. I read that Boris aides tried to get him an upgrade from economy class.
- Jackson, London
But what about our current mayor? He's going to go there isn't he?
"But the size of his party and the grade of his hotel has been reduced and he will fly economy"
Ok, Andrew, no need to get defensive.
- Kieran, London, UK
...and the political elite (of whatever colour) wonder why the man in the street treats them all with utter contempt and disbelief. Gordon Brown, Ken Livingstone and the rest of them are all the same - morally spineless. They hide behind our own history and lack the moral fibre to face up to the issues which will mould the future of our children. No doubt had they been in power in the 1930's they would have found a reason not to face up to Hitler - especially if we were dependant on trade with him!
- Russell Burton, Basingstoke, Hampshire
If the Chinese want to do that, then so what?
Is it in our public interest? No. Chinese interest maybe. This is British journalism again.
- Maurits Van Eijck, Billericay, UK
Whereas BoJo's trip cost the London taxpayer. Why does the Mayor of LONDON need to be at the Olympics at all? Let alone at taxpayers expense. Get yourself back here Bojo and sort out London's issues rather than swanning off to Beijing...
- Mcw, London
I reckon all these anti Ken people must have vinegar on toast for breakfast given the way they react when Ken's name is mentioned, followed by pancakes smothered in lemon juice given the bitter after-taste they exhibit.
If the Chinese government wants to re-pay Ken for past support then that is there business. Pity they didn't get him to award some medals to what turning out to be the best team we have ever had, no doubt spurred on by the fact that the next games will be on home ground.
Ken said had he still been mayor he would basically do his job as mayor and represent London which is the next city to host the games in 2012 which how it should be.
Gilligan should surely be writing a "Where's Boris" column and asking why he is skiving off from the job he was elected to do. That's the real scandal and how much business his absence could loose London.
Just remember the 2012 games come after the Mayoral election and London will hopefully have a new or should that be OLD mayor in charge.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex.
No problem with Ken accepting a nice junket. That's the way of the world, except I can only think the Chinese still think he is Mayor of London. Otherwise why would they spend this amount of money on someone who is unemployed and has no influence, even on the price of bread? Why didn't I get the invite? When I last went to my company Xmas party in London, they could only spend £50 per person before tax kicked in. Surely this is a benefit in Kind and is fully taxable... Think Steve Chambers, above, has a point.
- Bondy, Spain
I am sure that Mr Livingstone will declare this benefit on his tax return and pay the appropriate amount of income tax and national insurance.
- Steve Chambers, London NW11
Secretly I think you are a bit disappointed that Livingstone was voted out.
- Kieran, London, UK
Silliest thing London ever did, voting Ken out god help us with Boris in power.
- C May, Bromley
"Mr Livingstone said he thought he had been invited because the Chinese recognised him as a person “who might have some influence in the future"."
Really?
So is there some truth to the rumours that Ken plans to stand for Mayor again in four years time?
- Jim, Birmingham, UK
Excellent. Ken will need that experience for running the Olympics after he returns to office in 2012: London's only hope after four years of BoZo's incompetence.
- Roy Stilling, Gillingham, Kent
Wow, these guys are living in the lap of luxury and earning an absolute fortune.
Can anyone tell me how I too can become a 'Socialist', I'm sick of being a poor pleb.
- Steve, London
Good for Ken. Boris's trip was "funded by taxpayers". Why do we have to pay for that waster BoJo to go to the Olympics? Ken's no longer in office, why shouldn't he accept free trips from the Chinese government?
- Mcw, London
Boris should go to Beijing to learn how to organise our 2012 Olympics. I would be happy he goes paid by our taxes even on business class, this is one of his duties as the Mayor of London. Instead, he is on holiday somewhere...this incredible complacency! Will our Olympics will run like clockwork in China? Probably the usual British way of muddling through like Dad's Army: lost luggages at LHR, breakdown in London transport, mugging the visitors and last minute stricks. Come back Ken, let someone who has a vision to run London !
- Jose, London
Life in London certainly seems better now that we don't have to tolerate Ken anymore... but it is good to be reminded about the dark days of his administration. How on earth did this man ever get elected in the first place!
- Bob Holmes, london
Why shouldn't he take an all expenses paid trip to China that costs Londoners and Britain nothing. I don't see that it has anything to do with us. It is a matter for the Chinese.
- Angela, London, England
Livingston was thrown out of office by the scruff of his neck and should along with his other criminal inner circle should have been arrested and tried for fraud, and theft. He should be given no publicity and should be ignored. stop using the word cronies. the word is criminals. They have systematically looted the pockets of Londoners
- Mark Armstrong, london. uk
Ken Livingstone really does epitomise everything that George Orwell portrayed in Animal Farm. Of all the Animals he is the "Most equal of all". So how does he square the state murder of 3,000 protesters with "going in the right direction"? Or what about the impact of flying to Beijing. Livingstone is only concerned about cutting air travel as long as it isn't applied to him.
- Adam, Harrow, uk
This shows why so many Londoner's got rid of this parastic leftie! Hopefully, by the next Mayoral elections in London, Red Ken will not be part of them.
- Joannie, London, England
The Chinese have insulted the people of London by inviting Ken Livingstone, who represents no-one but himself, rather than our legitimately elected Mayor of London who represents the people of London.
- Jane, London, England
Hopefully it was a one-way business class ticket. Worth every penny to keep him and his cronies out of the country.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
I don't know why anyone is surprised by Ken Livingstone's defence of China's stance on human rights. He has always supported terrorist organisations, and treated ordinary people like second class citizens.
I wish his passport could be revoked while he was there, so that he could never return to this country.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
Andrew only has one drum to beat.
The election is over, get on with your life you sour man.
Are you going to start scrutinising the CURRENT mayor at any point? London deserves better.
- Peter, London
Good, it's a nice refreshing change to see Livingstone taking a junket using someone other than taxpayers money. To be honest I couldn't give a monkeys what he does any more, he's a spent force in politics and should be left to his won devices as long as it's not affecting London taxpayers.
- Emma Beal, London
The vilely grotesque Livingstone has finally become the perfectly hideous 'squealer' from Orwell's Animal Farm.
- Dave, Grange-Over-Sands
I bet the average Chinese person, earning just a few pounds a day, would be really happy to find out that £20,000 had been spent on a jolly for an ex-politician who now has nothing to do with the Olympics whatsoever.
- Liz, London
Gordon Bennett! Don't you ever stop. You've got the man out of office. Are you so worried about the prospects in office for your man Johnson that we're going to face four more years of your sniping?
- Will Hay, England
"going in the right direction" on human rights? What is it about totalitarian dictatorships that attract lefties? Bet Ken would love to regain power in London by a coup and arrest and silence his critics, including Standard journalists! He's a disgusting lap dog of the Chinese, and turns a blind eye to the suffering of political prisoners!
- Jon, Harrow
I bet you anything Boris will not be flying economy!
- Mark, Hong Kong
Why doesn't this man lay down and die metaphorically....he seems to be harbouring the illusion that he is still a political force to be reckoned with and he will return as Mayor at the next election....about as likely as GB winning the General Election! Why doesn't he open a newt farm?
- John Bush, London,E147LE
Livingstone's attitude is quite right - China's going in the right direction, and we're hypocrites for endless carping about their internal politics. I was in Beijing last month, and it felt like less of a police state than this country - and far safer too.
- Sean M, London
Good for him, and sour grapes for you.
- Aw79, London
