Diane Abbott suspended by Labour over letter on racism
MP apologises as party takes immediate action
VETERAN Labour MP Diane Abbott had the whip suspended yesterday pending a probe into a “deeply offensive” letter about racism.
The action came after Ms Abbott apologised for her letter, which suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism.
She wrote: “They experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable”.
After a backlash, the former Shadow Home Secretary under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership said an “initial draft” had been sent in error, and withdrew the comments.
Labour condemned the remarks as “deeply offensive and wrong”.
The party added: “The Chief Whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation.” Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, was responding to an article in the Observer newspaper by Tomiwa Owolade, with the headline “Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated”. The MP, 69, wrote: “It is true that many types of white people with points of dif ference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice.
“But they are not all their lives subject to racism.
“In pre- civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus.
“In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote.
“And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”
After her letter was published yesterday, Ms Abbott apologised, saying: “I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them.
“The errors arose in an initial draft. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused.
“Racism takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others.”
Jon Lansman, a key left-wing figure who helped set up the Momentum campaign group under Mr Corbyn’s leadership, supported the suspension. He described the letter as “disgraceful”, adding: “Racism is not a competition.”
Jewish Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge commended the party’s move to swiftly suspend Ms Abbott. She tweeted:
Jewish people have suffered the monstrous effects of racism, as have many others
DIANE ABBOTT , APOLOGISING FOR HER LETTER IN YESTERDAY’S OBSERVER
“Keir Starmer’s response is right. No excuses. No delays. The comments will be investigated and she has been immediately suspended.”
Ms Abbott was the first black woman elected to Parliament. A former Labour adviser, John McTernan, described her apology as “swift and appropriate”.
He said: “She has been subjected to vile racist abuse throughout her career, and her apology should be accepted in the spirit it is offered.”