Rethink logo

Rethink Mental Illness calls on Boris Johnson transport chief to apologise for ‘schizophrenic’ slur

Rethink Mental Illness calls on Boris Johnson transport chief to apologise for ‘schizophrenic’ slur

The charity Rethink Mental Illness is calling for Boris Johnson's transport chief Daniel Moylan to make a public apology after he described Ken Livingston as ‘schizophrenic’.

Commenting on the former Mayor’s plans for tube fare cuts, Mr Moylan told The Evening Standard: "He [Mr Livingstone] is schizophrenic. I'm not calling him a liar but he is misleading the public and he is kind of misleading himself."

Mark Davies, Director of Communications for the charity Rethink Mental Illness said: “This comment is bizarre and absolutely inappropriate. You would never hear a public figure using any other kind of illness as a term of abuse like this. Schizophrenia is a serious illness, not a casual insult, frankly we expect more from people in the public eye.

“His comments underline the appalling level of misunderstanding there is about this illness, its causes and impact. I suggest Mr Moylan issues a full apology at the earliest opportunity.”

 

ENDS


For more information, please contact Rachel Whitehead, Senior Media Relations Officer for Rethink Mental Illness on 0207 840 3138