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Diane Abbott suspended by Labour after suggesting Jewish people not subject to racism Diane Abbott suspended by Labour after suggesting Jewish people not subject to racism
(40 minutes later)
MP loses party whip after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people had not experienced racismMP loses party whip after writing a letter suggesting Jewish people had not experienced racism
Labour has suspended the party whip from Diane Abbott, after the MP wrote a letter suggesting Jewish people had not experienced racism.Labour has suspended the party whip from Diane Abbott, after the MP wrote a letter suggesting Jewish people had not experienced racism.
Following a torrent of criticism from people including the energy secretary, Grant Shapps, who has spoken before about his Jewish faith, Abbott withdrew the comments.Following a torrent of criticism from people including the energy secretary, Grant Shapps, who has spoken before about his Jewish faith, Abbott withdrew the comments.
She had been responding to a comment article published in the Guardian, titled: “Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated.” She had been responding to a comment article published in the Observer, titled: “Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated.”
In a letter to the newspaper, Abbott took issue with its thesis – based on a survey that found high numbers of Irish, Jewish and Traveller people had reported suffering from racism. In a letter to the newspaper, Abbott took issue with its thesis – based on a survey that found high numbers of Irish, Jewish and Traveller people had reported suffering from racism. The former shadow home secretary wrote that “they undoubtedly experience prejudice”, but added: “This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.”
The former shadow home secretary wrote that “they undoubtedly experience prejudice”, but added: “This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.”
Abbott 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.”Abbott 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.”
She said Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required in pre-civil rights America to sit at the back of a bus, were able to vote in apartheid South Africa and were not trafficked or placed into manacles on slave ships.” She said Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required in pre-civil rights America to sit at the back of buses, were able to vote in apartheid South Africa and were not trafficked or placed into manacles on slave ships.
Senior Conservatives swiftly called on her to apologise. Shapps urged the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, to intervene, and said that “once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful antisemitism”.Senior Conservatives swiftly called on her to apologise. Shapps urged the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, to intervene, and said that “once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful antisemitism”.
A Labour spokesperson said the party “completely condemns these comments”, calling them “deeply offensive and wrong”. They added that the chief whip had suspended the whip from Abbott, meaning she will sit as an independent MP “pending an investigation”.A Labour spokesperson said the party “completely condemns these comments”, calling them “deeply offensive and wrong”. They added that the chief whip had suspended the whip from Abbott, meaning she will sit as an independent MP “pending an investigation”.
Abbott herself published an apology on Twitter, saying she wanted to “wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks”. Abbott published an apology on Twitter, saying she wanted to “wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks”. She blamed the errors on “an initial draft being sent”.
She blamed the errors on “an initial draft being sent”.
Abbott said: “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.Abbott said: “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.
“Once again, I would likely to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”“Once again, I would likely to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”