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| Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter | Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Diane Abbott has been suspended as a Labour MP pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism for the Observer, the party has said. | Diane Abbott has been suspended as a Labour MP pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism for the Observer, the party has said. |
| The politician said "many types of white people with points of difference" can experience prejudice, in a letter published on Sunday. | The politician said "many types of white people with points of difference" can experience prejudice, in a letter published on Sunday. |
| But they are not subject to racism "all their lives", she said. | But they are not subject to racism "all their lives", she said. |
| She later tweeted to say she was withdrawing her remarks and apologised "for any anguish caused". | She later tweeted to say she was withdrawing her remarks and apologised "for any anguish caused". |
| Labour said the comments were "deeply offensive and wrong". | |
| In the letter, she wrote: "In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. | In the letter, she wrote: "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. | "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." | "And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships." |
| She had been responding to an article on the Guardian website questioning the view that racism "only affects people of colour". | |
| In her apology, Ms Abbott said "errors" arose in an initial draft that was sent. | |
| She continued: "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." | |
| The BBC has approached Ms Abbott for comment since the whip was removed. | |
| The move means she will not be allowed to represent the party in the House of Commons, where she will now sit as an independent MP. | |
| A Labour party spokesman said: "The Labour Party completely condemns these comments, which are deeply offensive and wrong. | |
| "The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation." | |
| Related Topics | |
| Diane Abbott | |
| Labour Party |