Livingstone under fire over £20,000 Olympics trip

Livingstone under fire over £20,000 Olympics trip
Published Date: 16 August 2008
By Gerri Peev

HUMAN rights campaigners have criticised the decision by Ken Livingstone, the former London mayor, to accept a £20,000 Olympics junket from the Chinese government.

Mr Livingstone admitted he had accepted the extravagant hospitality of the communist regime, but refused to say whether he had challenged China on human rights, saying the country was "going in the right direction" on its human rights record.

Free Tibet campaigners said refusing to criticise the Chinese for their abuses publicly was giving the regime tacit support.

Activists will urge Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, to make a public statement about China ahead of his trip there for the hand-over of the Olympic flag.

A protest is planned outside Downing Street today to highlight their concerns.

Mr Livingstone's trip was paid for by Chinese taxpayers and included a meeting with China's finance minister.

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