LABOUR have said they are looking “incredibly seriously” at an interview in which veteran MP Diane Abbott said she has no regrets about comments on racism which led to her being suspended by the party.
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP was suspended by the Labour Party in 2023 after writing a letter to the Observer comparing racism experienced by people of colour with that seen by other groups.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Reflections programme, she said she did not look back on the incident with regret.
According to reports, Labour sources have said Abbott was expected to lose the whip.
One told The Times it was for “doubling down on something she previously had the whip withdrawn for”. They added that she “shouldn’t be immune because she’s the mother of the house”.
The title is given to the longest-serving female MP.
A Labour party spokesperson said: “There is no place for antisemitism in the Labour party. We take these comments incredibly seriously, and will assess them in line with Labour party’s rules and procedures.”
Her comments come after four MPs were kicked out of the parliamentary Labour Party over voting against the UK Government and criticism of its policies in the media.
Party sources said the decision to suspend the whip was taken as a result of persistent breaches of discipline rather than a single rebellion.
Abbott, who was readmitted to the party before the 2024 General Election, 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.”
She apologised for any anguished caused by the remarks which drew criticism from Jewish and Travellers groups.
The longest-serving female MP in the Commons, who entered Parliament in 1987, said she got a “bit weary” about people labelling her antisemitic and said she had “spent a lifetime fighting racism of all kinds”.
She said she was “grateful” to be a Labour MP but was sure the party leadership had been “trying to get me out”.
Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the Government’s welfare reforms, responded to Starmer's attempt to assert his authority over the party, and said: “On this occasion, I don’t think he’s got it right.”
She added: “I really hope from this process there will be reflection over the summer, but also learning.
“There needs to be a better reach-out to backbenchers to ensure that we are the safeguards of our Government.”
