Here's how the former Mayor of London plunged Labour into chaos
First, Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for North Durham, told the Politics Home blog that Livingstone knows nothing about defence.
"I'm not sure Ken knows anything about defence. It will only damage our credibility amongst those that do and who care about defence," said Jones.
Then Livingstone hit back, telling the Mirror that Jones needed psychiatric help:"I think [Jones] 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."
Jones, who has been open about suffering from depression, hit back saying that he found Livingstone's comments "gravely offensive not just personally but also to the many thousands who suffer from mental illness."
If Labour were running an effective communications operation, they would have got Livingstone to immediately apologise. Labour is not running an effective media operation.
In an interview on the LBC radio station, Livingstone refused to apologise, saying that Jones was "rude about me, I was rude back. He needs to get over it."
The defense review is a major undertaking that will help decide Labour's policy on Trident nuclear missiles, one of the most contentious issues facing the party.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is a long time anti-nuclear campaigner who has said he wouldn't authorise the use of nuclear missiles if he was Prime Minister, but many members of his shadow cabinet, including Shadow Defence Secretary Maria Eagle, are "pro trident."
Eagle will co-chair the review with Livingstone. Eagle only found out about Livingstone's appointment when she read the news this morning and was reported to be furious at the decision. It was very understandable that she was upset; two days ago Livingstone went on TV and said Eagle was "mad" if she thought it was worth spending money on renewing the Trident nuclear weapon programme.
This incensed Labour MPs who took to Twitter in their droves in order to slam their newly appointed defense review co-chair.
Unfortunately for the Labour press office, Livingstone didn't pay any attention to them, once again refusing to apologise on a radio interview, this time on the BBC's World at One programme. "If he's upset I'm sorry. I grew up in south London if someone's rude to you, you're rude back," Livingstone defiantly proclaimed.
Twenty minutes later he finally issued an apology through Twitter.