LABOUR has backed Ken Livingstone’s role in the Trident policy review after he apologised yesterday for telling an MP to seek “psychiatric help.”

Mr Livingstone “unreservedly” apologised to Labour colleague Kevan Jones and leader Jeremy Corbyn for his comments.

And a party source insisted that the former London mayor, who is strongly opposed to Trident, would bring “balance” to the debate on nuclear weapons.

Mr Livingstone was chosen to co-chair Labour’s defence commission alongside shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle by the party’s national executive on Tuesday night.

He landed himself in hot water hours later while responding to criticism of his appointment.

Mr Jones, a shadow defence minister, claimed that Mr Livingstone would “damage our credibility.”

Mr Livingstone responded: “I think he might need some psychiatric help.

“He’s obviously very depressed and disturbed. He should pop off and see his GP before he makes these offensive comments.”

The comments caused particular offence because Mr Jones has spoken openly in Parliament of his struggle with depression.

Mr Livingstone insisted he had not been aware of Mr Jones’s condition and initially refused to apologise.

He backed down after Mr Corbyn intervened, saying he was “extremely concerned and angered” by the comments.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Mr Livingstone wrote: “I unreservedly apologise to Kevan Jones for my comments. They should not have been made at all, let alone in this context.

“I also make this apology because Jeremy is right to insist on a more civil politics and as a party we should take this seriously.”

Ms Eagle said later that she was “sanguine” about working with Mr Livingstone.