WE have no idea if the Elton John song "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" is one of Ken Livingstone's favourites.

But his inability to see the need to apologise over his insulting remark to journalist Oliver Finegold is serving to dig a deeper and deeper hole for himself.

In comparing the Jewish reporter to a German war criminal and a concentration camp guard, he not only insulted Mr Finegold but anyone who fought in the world wars.

It was an offensive and stupid thing to say and the Mayor of London should have had the common sense and good grace to acknowledge it. Had he done so, the storm which has engulfed him - leading to his suspension from office - would have quickly subsided.

Instead, he has decided to go on digging his hole. He is to appeal against the four-week suspension, with the intention of taking his case to the Law Lords if necessary.

Are the Court of Appeal or the Law Lords likely to rule that Mr Livingstone was within his rights to make the remark? We doubt it very much.

But it will be a lengthy and expensive distraction when he should be concentrating his efforts on the many important issues facing the people of our capital city.

The London Assembly has said he was wrong and should apologise. A High Court judge has come to the same conclusion.

If his appeal is successful, and the judicial system concludes that he was right to liken a Jewish journalist a German war criminal, we will happily say sorry.