The secretary of the Labour Party‘s Croydon Central group has been suspended after defending Ken Livingstone’s comments about Adolf Hitler.

David White took to Twitter to defend the former London Mayor’s suggestion that the Nazi leader had been a Zionist, comments which the Mr White claimed were “largely accurate”.

He has since deleted the April 28 tweet.

Mr Livingstone, a former London Mayor, was suspended from the Labour Party that day for bringing the party into disrepute after party colleagues accused him of anti-Semitism and branded him a “Nazi apologist”.

Mr White, a former Greater London Council member, announced his suspension on Twitter last night.

In a statement today Mr White, who has been a member of the party for 46 years, said: "I have been saddened to receive a letter from Labour Party head office suspending me from holding office or representing the Labour Party.

"Specifically I commented that Ken was largely factually accurate in referring to an agreement in the 1930s between the German Nazi Party and some Zionists to provide for some Jews to go to what is now Israel (the so-called Haavara agreement).

"Immediately I sent the tweet I realised that it was unwise, whatever the historical facts, to conflate Zionism with Hitler.

"True anti-semitism is a terrible thing and should be forcefully opposed.  I have a long history of opposing anti-semitism and other forms of racism, as have most people who have been in the Labour Party as long as I have."

John Stolliday, head of constitutional unit at the national Labour party, wrote to Mr White to inform him of his suspension on May 4.

The letter read: "In view of the urgency to protect the Party's reputation in the present situation the General Secretary has determined to use powers deligated to him under Clause V111.5 of the constitutional rules of the party to impose this suspension forthwith, subject to the approval of the next meeting of the NEC.

"Because of the nature of the allegations recieved and concerns that your presense at branch meetings may be detrimental to the party, while subject to this administrative suspension, you cannot attend any party meetings including your own branch meeting and annual conference and you cannot seek office within the party or ve considered for selection as a candidate to represent the Labour party at an election at any level."

The Croydon Conservative party called for Mr White to be suspended after he defended Mr Livingstone’s comments.

Last week Ian Parker, secretary of the Croydon Central Conservative Federation wrote to Bob Hewitt, chair of the Croydon Central Labour Party, to ask if the party intended to suspend Mr White.

He said in the letter: “I hope you agree with me that anyone who seeks to attack a minority community, or who supports any form of racism has no place in a civilised political party.”

In his statment Mr White went on to say he would fight his suspension and work to be reinstated, adding: "I didn’t think for one moment that my party would heed the Tory calls for action against me.

"The Labour Party should review its internal procedures. It isn’t right that people should be suspended before they have had any chance to put their case or answer accusations."

Labour has not yet commented on his suspension.