Ken Livingstone's mental health slur is more of a problem than his views on Trident

Maria Eagle’s aides have denied reports that she is considering quitting her role as Shadow Defence Secretary over the appointment of Ken Livingstone as co-convenor of the Labour party defence policy review. But they are emphasising that she remains the lead on defence policy, and that this review will be feeding in to the party’s National Policy Forum. In a rather optimistic assessment of the rather odd predicament that Eagle, who supports Trident renewal, finds herself in, a source close to the Shadow Defence Secretary explained that having two co-convenors who take different views on the nuclear deterrent may help the policy review process as it will mean everyone with different views on the matter in the party will feel properly consulted:

‘The review aims to facilitate a broad debate in the party about what our defence policies are and having two co-convenors who disagree on the issue of Trident is not that unhelpful.’

What is arguably more of a problem is that Eagle’s co-chair is someone who thinks that the best way to respond to Kevan Jones’s criticism of his appointment is to tell the Mirror that the shadow defence minister ‘might need some psychiatric help. He’s obviously very depressed and disturbed’. At some point, Labour MPs may find that the new kinder politics is totally unpalatable. Jones tells me that he is ‘disappointed and angry’ and that Livingstone cannot lead this review:

‘I don’t think anyone who makes comments like this is fit to represent the Labour party in any forum.’

Jones added that he felt ‘sorry for Jeremy’ Corbyn:

‘People have political differences: that’s one thing, then to use mental health as a way of attacking other opinions is totally unacceptable and just reinforces the stigma that many of us, including myself and Jeremy Corbyn have worked hard to erase.’

Livingstone’s slur on Jones could turn out to be far more of a problem for Jeremy Corbyn than his conflict with Eagle over Trident. Update, 11.43am: A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn writes:

“Jeremy is incredibly concerned that people with mental health problems shouldn’t be stigmatised. He has worked with Kevan in the past on this issue and is impressed by his bravery in speaking out on his own mental health issues. Ken should apologise to him straight away.”