Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour party for a second time after she said she did not regret her past remarks on racism, as Keir Starmer once again attempted to reassert control over his backbenchers.
The veteran MP now faces an investigation over her defence of remarks more than two years ago that people of colour experienced racism “all their lives”, which was different from the “prejudice” experienced by Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers.
In a statement to Newsnight on Thursday evening, Abbott said: “It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out. My comments in the interview … were factually correct, as any fair-minded person would accept.”
The suspension came as Starmer took a tougher approach to party discipline, suspending the whip from four Labour MPs who repeatedly voted against the government, including on welfare reform. He insisted he would not be “deflected” from his mission to reform Britain.
The decision drew angry responses from some within the party. John McDonnell said it was “extremely bizarre” that Abbott was suspended while no action was taken over those who inserted Enoch Powell’s racist language into Starmer’s speech. Shami Chakrabarti also criticised the move.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner expressed disappointment that Abbott had defended the comments, saying there was “no place for antisemitism” within Labour.
