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| Diane Abbott says she stands by racism comments that led to suspension from Labour | Diane Abbott says she stands by racism comments that led to suspension from Labour |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| MP says it is ‘silly’ to claim racism over skin colour is the same as other types of racism, but she has spent her life fighting antisemitism | MP says it is ‘silly’ to claim racism over skin colour is the same as other types of racism, but she has spent her life fighting antisemitism |
| Diane Abbott has said she has no regrets about comments on racism that led to her year-long suspension from the Labour party. | Diane Abbott has said she has no regrets about comments on racism that led to her year-long suspension from the Labour party. |
| The veteran Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was disciplined for writing a letter to the Observer in April 2023 arguing that people of colour experienced racism “all their lives” and in a different way to Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers. | The veteran Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was disciplined for writing a letter to the Observer in April 2023 arguing that people of colour experienced racism “all their lives” and in a different way to Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers. |
| Although she withdrew the comments at the time and apologised for any anguish caused, she was suspended from the Labour party after Keir Starmer said her letter was antisemitic. | Although she withdrew the comments at the time and apologised for any anguish caused, she was suspended from the Labour party after Keir Starmer said her letter was antisemitic. |
| Abbott, who was readmitted to Labour before the general election, said she did not look back on the incident with regret and that she stood by the argument. | Abbott, who was readmitted to Labour before the general election, said she did not look back on the incident with regret and that she stood by the argument. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Reflections programme on Thursday, she 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. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Reflections programme on Thursday, she 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.” | “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.” |
| Her remarks came hours after Starmer suspended four Labour MPs from the party whip for repeated breaches of discipline. | Her remarks came hours after Starmer suspended four Labour MPs from the party whip for repeated breaches of discipline. |
| Abbott, who has the honorary title of Mother of the House as the longest-serving female MP in the Commons, said she felt “a bit weary” of people labelling her antisemitic. She had “spent a lifetime fighting racism of all kinds and in particular fighting antisemitism, partly because of the nature of my constituency”. | Abbott, who has the honorary title of Mother of the House as the longest-serving female MP in the Commons, said she felt “a bit weary” of people labelling her antisemitic. She had “spent a lifetime fighting racism of all kinds and in particular fighting antisemitism, partly because of the nature of my constituency”. |
| Asked whether she felt she had been “hung out to dry” by the Labour leadership during the disciplinary process relating to her remarks, she said: “In the end, Keir Starmer had to restore the whip to me. | Asked whether she felt she had been “hung out to dry” by the Labour leadership during the disciplinary process relating to her remarks, she said: “In the end, Keir Starmer had to restore the whip to me. |
| “I got tremendous support locally. We had a big rally on the steps of Hackney town hall. And in the end Keir Starmer and the people around him had to back off because of the support I had from the community.” | “I got tremendous support locally. We had a big rally on the steps of Hackney town hall. And in the end Keir Starmer and the people around him had to back off because of the support I had from the community.” |
| Abbott was readmitted to the party and allowed to stand again in the July 2024 election after party officials failed to broker a deal by which she would get the whip back in return for standing down. | Abbott was readmitted to the party and allowed to stand again in the July 2024 election after party officials failed to broker a deal by which she would get the whip back in return for standing down. |
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| Reports that she would not be allowed to contest her seat as a Labour candidate led to a backlash from MPs and activists. The party’s investigation into her had concluded months earlier but led to no change in her status. | Reports that she would not be allowed to contest her seat as a Labour candidate led to a backlash from MPs and activists. The party’s investigation into her had concluded months earlier but led to no change in her status. |
| Abbott told the BBC she was sure the Labour leadership had been “trying to get me out” and there were “hints” that she would be offered a seat in the House of Lords if she stepped down as an MP. | Abbott told the BBC she was sure the Labour leadership had been “trying to get me out” and there were “hints” that she would be offered a seat in the House of Lords if she stepped down as an MP. |
| “I was never going to [do] that. And I’m a Labour MP today, and I’m grateful,” she said. |