Diane Abbott suspended as Labour MP over ‘deeply offensive’ letter about racism

Diane Abbott. Photograph: UK Parliament/Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Hackney North MP Diane Abbott has lost the Labour whip after a letter she penned to a newspaper about racism was deemed “deeply offensive”.

Abbott wrote to the Observer that suggested people from Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities have not been subjected to racism “all their lives”.

Her letter stated: “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. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships.”

The letter was a response to a comment that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from racism in the UK.

Following a backlash, Abbott later retracted her words in a statement on social media.

She said: “I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them.

“The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. 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.

“Once again, I would like to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”

The Labour Party confirmed that it has suspended Abbott, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, while it investigates.

A spokesperson 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.”