Diane Abbott suspended from Labour after racism comments

DIANE Abbott has been suspended from the Labour Party, it has been confirmed.

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP said in an interview that she had no regrets about comments she made on racism which led to her being suspended by the party in 2023.

Abbott had written a letter to the Observer comparing racism experienced by people of colour with that seen by other groups.

Diane Abbott Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Reflections programme, she said she did not look back on the incident with regret.

Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that Abbott faced a fresh suspension from Labour as a result, as a party spokesperson said they were looking "incredibly seriously" at the interview.

Labour sources also briefed the media that Abbott was expected to lose the whip.

The party confirmed the decision on Thursday evening, saying Abbott had been administratively suspended pending an investigation.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the [[Labour Party]], pending an investigation.

“We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing.”

Abbott's suspension comes 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.

Diane Abbott (Image: PA) In her letter to the Observer, Abbott wrote: “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.

Entering Parliament in 1987, Abbott is the longest-serving female MP in the Commons – which earns her the title of mother of the house.

Abbott 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”.