MP Diane Abbott suspended from Labour Party for second time

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington reportedly doubled down on comments about racism she had previously apologised for.

Ms Abbott has lost the whip a day after Rachael Maskell, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Neil Duncan-Jordan.

A Labour Party spokesperson said Ms Abbott has been suspended “pending an investigation”.

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

The 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.

Ms 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.

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Earlier this month Ms Abbott was also criticised on social media, for allegedly using the phrase ‘Jewish Defence Force’ on social media when referring to the Israel Defence Force’s role in the aid rollout in Gaza.

The post has since been deleted.

Ms Abbott is the Mother of the House as the longest-serving female MP in the Commons having entered Parliament in 1987.