Ken Livingstone has been suspended from office for four weeks. He is to step down from his duties on March 1.
In deciding the punishment the three-man Adjudication Panel for England rejected the alternative of a censure or an order for Mr Livingstone to undergo training. Here's what they said:
The case tribunal is, however, concerned that the mayor does seem to have failed from the outset of this case to have appreciated that his conduct was unacceptable, a breach of the code and did damage to the reputation of his office.
His representative was quite right in saying that matters should not have got as far as this, but it is the mayor who must take responsibility for that.
It was his comments that started the matter and thereafter his position seems to have become ever more entrenched.
The case tribunal considers that the appropriate sanction is for the mayor to be suspended for a period of four weeks from March 1.
Ken's response has been typically bullish. He's claimed the suspension "strikes at the heart of democracy" and has said he will consider an appeal:
"Three members of a body that no one has ever elected should not be allowed to overturn the votes of millions of Londoners. I have been advised that the decision of this tribunal today may be open to challenge.
I will meet with my legal representatives early next week and will then make a statement about whether I will be exercising my right of challenge."
It's difficult to see this as anything other than a complete overreaction, and it only seems to confirm that it's getting increasingly difficult for politicians to do or say anything that might possibly make them seem fallible or even vaguely human (which is, frankly, how we like our politicans).
If you have any suggestions about what Ken could do with his month off, or indeed if you think there's anyone who you'd like to see fill Ken's shoes while he's away, let us know in the Comments.
