IT is time for Ken Livingstone to do the decent thing by his party leader and resign from Labour.

Jeremy Corbyn has denied there is a crisis in the party over allegations of anti-Semitism, after Mr Livingstone was suspended over comments about Hitler.

Labour is launching an investigation into the former London mayor's conduct after outraged senior figures lined up to call for him to be kicked out.

Since he was brought back into the fold Mr Livingstone has made a series of horribly ill-judged comments that have damaged his party and left his own reputation in tatters.

His being handed a position of influence by Mr Corbyn now looks like a serious error of judgement. That decision has come back to bite the Labour leader and to drag the party into a damaging fracas as a time when it should be offering robust opposition to the Conservatives, riven by their own disputes over Europe, and preparing for next week's council elections.

It exposed the party to a strand of pro-Palestinian views which have fuelled accusations of racism in the party.

Mr Corbyn has endured a very bumpy ride since being elected leader in September last year, but this current crisis has handed him what is perhaps his biggest challenge yet.

He must act decisively, show leadership and show his close ally Mr Livingstone the door.

Ideally to minimise any further damage the man known by many as 'Red Ken' needs to exit. Stage left would seem to be the most appropriate direction.