Ken Livingstone made the remark after it appeared that the BNP candidate for the London mayoral elections will also attend the BBC London 94.9 mayoral debate.
“I am withdrawing from Monday’s mayoral debate on BBC London 94.9 on the grounds that I am not prepared to share a platform with the British National Party,” Livingstone said.
He added that the far-right BNP “cannot be treated as a legitimate part of politics” as it is a threat to British democracy and wants to “stand for the elimination of our basic rights.”
This is while, reports said Conservative candidate and current London mayor Boris Johnson as well as Green party candidate Jenny Jones have also pulled out of the BBC debate on the same grounds.
The BNP formally stands for racial discriminatory policies to persuade “immigrants and their descendents to return home.”
AMR/HE