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| Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter | Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP after racism letter |
| (32 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". | Labour said the comments were "deeply offensive and wrong". |
| The BBC has approached Ms Abbott for comment. | The BBC has approached Ms Abbott for comment. |
| In the letter, she wrote that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people "undoubtedly experience prejudice", which she said is "similar to racism". | |
| She continued: "It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, 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. | "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 in the Guardian questioning the view that racism "only affects people of colour". | She had been responding to an article in the Guardian questioning the view that racism "only affects people of colour". |
| Ms Abbott's letter prompted a backlash, including from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which described it as "disgraceful" and her apology "entirely unconvincing". | Ms Abbott's letter prompted a backlash, including from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which described it as "disgraceful" and her apology "entirely unconvincing". |
| The group had urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to remove the whip. | The group had urged Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to remove the whip. |
| In her apology, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said "errors" arose in an initial draft that was sent. | In her apology, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington 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. | 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." | "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." |
| Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge, who is Jewish, called the letter "deeply offensive and deeply distressing". | |
| She backed the suspension of the whip, tweeting: "No excuses. No delays. | |
| "The comments will be investigated and she has been immediately suspended." | |
| The Jewish Labour Movement - an organisation of Labour-supporting Jewish members - said it "regretfully" supported the party's decision. | The Jewish Labour Movement - an organisation of Labour-supporting Jewish members - said it "regretfully" supported the party's decision. |
| It tweeted: "Diane Abbott is one of the most respected people in the Labour Party as an activist who overcame racism and prejudice to become Britain's first black woman MP. | It tweeted: "Diane Abbott is one of the most respected people in the Labour Party as an activist who overcame racism and prejudice to become Britain's first black woman MP. |
| "We should be unified in our struggle against racism, not divided against one another. | "We should be unified in our struggle against racism, not divided against one another. |
| "A hierarchy of racism only divides communities and assists the racists." | "A hierarchy of racism only divides communities and assists the racists." |
| Suspending the whip means Ms Abbott will not be allowed to represent Labour in the House of Commons, where she will now sit as an independent MP. | Suspending the whip means Ms Abbott will not be allowed to represent Labour 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. | 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." | "The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation." |
| The party declined to comment on when an investigation would begin, or who would lead it. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Diane Abbott | Diane Abbott |
| Labour Party | Labour Party |