If you read what Livingston has said you'll see that he never has used the word 'Nazi'. He has used the word 'German'. I've read many articles in the English press and the posts here in Mudcat and have not seen a single mention or realisation how easily in Britain the word 'Nazi' and the word 'German' can be exchanged for each other. Livingston could have said 'war criminal' (not only German have been war criminals and all the recent cases have come from somewhere else), he could have said 'Nazi war criminal' but he has said 'German war criminal' just as if the word 'German' can be used readily in Britain as an additional insult or to give a planned insult an extra impetus.

The British press and the good people of Mudcat would have commented had Livingston said 'Gypsy thief' insteda of only 'thief' and if he has said 'Irish terrorist' or 'Muslim terrorist' instead of only 'terrorist' but 'German war criminal' goes down well without even noticing.

Livingston being drunk is a very sad excuse, I doubt someone here would use that excuse in the case of a fatal car accident. To even mention it an excuse is completely irrelevant since Livingston the next morning didn't say sorry. Or do you want to imply that he is always drunk?

My impression is that many of you first lokk whether you like him and after having decided 'he's one of us' look for every lame excuse.

I don't think that he should apologise to Jews for anti-semitism, I do not see a good reason for that demand in this case, but I think he should apologise to an individual he has insulted with purpose. If he can't do that he loses as a politician and as a human. But I never had the impression that admitting an error was one of his strengths.

Wolfgang