Labour leadership contender says he would like to revisit the 1980s and "assassinate Thatcher"

Tuesday lunchtime update:

The BBC reports that 24 hours later, McDonnell has apologised for his "joke" about Margaret Thatcher:

"In that audience everyone took it as a joke and in that atmosphere and that audience it was just a normal joke .. but I can understand, if people have taken offence I can understand. I'm not the sort of person that would want to upset people."

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LabourList reports the disgusting remarks at a hustings of John McDonnell, the Left-wing candidate for the Labour leadership, who is unlikely to reach the ballot paper due to lack of support:

John McDonnell says he was on the GLC - and that if he could go back in time and do one thing, he would visit the 1980s and "assassinate Thatcher".

LabourLists's Alex Smith says "the wisdom of such a statement really has to be questioned".

McDonnell's statement is utterly despicable and I hope that his rivals will condemn him for it.

Jonathan Isaby

Wednesday 7am: The Scotsman reports an apology from Mr McDonnell: "I'm sorry if I have caused offence to anyone. It was a joke."