Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour Party for a second time after defending past remarks on racism, as Sir Keir Starmer moves to tighten party discipline. The veteran MP, the first black woman elected to Parliament, faces an investigation over comments made in a BBC interview where she stood by her 2023 letter to the Observer.
In that letter, Abbott wrote that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience 'prejudice' but not the same 'racism' faced by people of colour, which she said affects them 'all their lives'. She apologised at the time and was readmitted after a probe. However, in Thursday's interview, she said her remarks were 'factually correct' and accused the leadership of wanting her out.
The suspension comes alongside Starmer’s decision to withdraw the whip from four Labour MPs who repeatedly voted against the government, including on welfare reform. At a press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Starmer said he would not be 'deflected' from delivering change, adding that those who 'repeatedly break the whip' must be dealt with.
The move has sparked anger among left-wing Labour figures. John McDonnell called it 'extremely bizarre' that Abbott was suspended while no action was taken over the use of Enoch Powell’s language in a recent Starmer speech. Shami Chakrabarti said those writing 'island of strangers' speeches should be slow to judge Abbott, who has fought racism all her life.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner expressed disappointment that Abbott defended the comments, stating there is 'no place for antisemitism' in Labour. Abbott, the longest-serving female MP, first made the remarks in 2023 and was suspended after Starmer deemed them antisemitic.
