URGENT UPDATE: The Labour Party has launched a new investigation into MP Diane Abbott following her controversial comments on racism, which she reiterated in a recent BBC interview. This development comes as Abbott faces backlash over remarks she made in 2023, suggesting that Jews, Travellers, and Irish people do not experience racism in the same way as people of color.
In a letter to The Observer two years ago, Abbott stated that while these groups “undoubtedly experience prejudice,” it is not equivalent to the racism faced by individuals based on skin color. She drew a comparison to the discrimination experienced by people with red hair, stating, “It is true that many types of white people with points of difference…can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism.”
Following the letter, Abbott was suspended from the Labour Party, but she was later allowed to stand for election after Sir Keir Starmer, the party leader, condemned her statements as “antisemitic.” Despite apologizing for any distress caused, Abbott has now declared she does not regret her comments “at all.”
In an interview with the BBC’s Reflections program, she stated, “Clearly, there must be a difference between racism which is about color and other types of racism.” She elaborated, saying, “You can see a black person walking down the street, you see straight away that they’re black. They are different types of racism.”
When pressed on whether her previous comments were wrong, Abbott dismissed the notion, calling it “silly” to equate color-based racism with other forms of prejudice. She expressed frustration over being labeled antisemitic, asserting, “I have spent a lifetime fighting racism of all kinds and in particular fighting antisemitism.”
Following her remarks, a spokesperson for the Labour Party confirmed that they would be reviewing Abbott’s latest statements. “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,” the spokesperson stated.
This situation has significant implications for Abbott’s political future and the Labour Party, already navigating sensitive discussions around racism and antisemitism within its ranks. The public and party members are awaiting further developments as the investigation unfolds.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
