Diane Abbott suspended by Labour after comments about racism

Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour Party after she doubled down on comments about racism she had previously apologised for.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington has lost the whip a day after Keir Starmer suspended four Labour MPs for rebelling against the government.

It comes after Ms Abbott said she had "no regrets" over comments she made that led to a previous suspension.

Ms Abbott had the whip withdrawn in 2023 after writing a letter to the Observer newspaper that Irish, Jewish and Traveller communities "are not all their lives subject to racism". It sparked allegations of antisemitism, which the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP has long denied.

READ MORE: Diane Abbott set for fresh Labour showdown after 'no regrets' remark

Asked about whether she had regrets over the controversy, she told the BBC: "No, not at all." Ms Abbott said: "Clearly, there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don't know.

"I just think that it's silly to try and claim that racism which is about skin colour is the same as other types of racism. I don't know why people would say that."

A Labour source earlier said: "There is no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party. We take these comments incredibly seriously, and will assess them in line with Labour Party's rules and procedures."

On Ms Abbott's suspension, a Labour Party spokesman said: “Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing.”

It is understood Ms Abbott’s administrative suspension by the Labour Party, pending investigation, has the automatic effect of suspending the Labour whip in the House of Commons.

Her suspension comes after Keir Starmer this afternoon hit out at Labour rebels after the surprise decision to suspend four MPs. The Prime Minister said the Government "had to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip" after being asked if it was a sign of weakness.

Backbenchers Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Leishman and Rachael Maskell were dramatically suspended on Wednesday. They were among dozens who rebelled over welfare.

Speaking at a press conference in Stevenage, Mr Starmer said: "We had to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip because everyone was elected as a Labour MP on the manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour Government."

He added that he is "so determined to press forward with the reforms and the change that we need to bring about".

Earlier York Central MP Ms Maskell said she thought the PM's response was wrong, saying: "On this occasion, I don't think he's got it right."

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