Labour MPs back Diane Abbott after second suspension

The National

18-07-2025

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.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Reflections programme, she said she did not look back on the incident with regret.
The party confirmed on Thursday evening she has been administratively suspended pending an investigation.
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Labour MPs have since spoken out in solidarity with Abbott, with several claiming her comments have been taken out of context.
Many journalists including Owen Jones and Sangita Myska have additionally called out the media coverage of Abbott's comments, with Myska saying Abbott "clearly condemns antisemitism" in the interview.
Richard Burgon (below), who was suspended from Labour himself for a period after voting for the two-child cap to be dropped, tweeted: "As ever my total solidarity with Diane Abbott, a truly historic figure in the fight against racism in Britain and someone I am so proud to have as a friend.
"People should watch the clip of what she actually said, rather than what some are claiming she said."
Several MPs have reshared the clip of the interview pointing out her "informed contribution" and stressing she has a right to talk about her lived experience.
Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald said on Twitter/X that he hoped there would be an "early resolution" to her suspension.
He posted: "Diane has been subjected to racism for decades and has a proud history of combatting it in all its forms.
"Listen here to her informed contribution on racism in her Radio 4 interview.
"I hope there can be calm consideration and an early resolution."
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Scottish MP Brian Leishman, who was suspended by Labour earlier this week alongside three of his colleagues, said Abbott "had fought against racism her entire life" as he shared her interview on social media.
Bell Ribero-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham, encouraged people to listen to the entire clip of Abbott's interview where she condemns all forms of racism.
She tweeted: "Solidarity with @HackneyAbbott
"Before condemning her based on headlines, I would listen to her clip and note she discussed the different forms that racism takes and condemned all forms of racism."
Asked if she looked back on her comments about racism with regret, Abbott said: "No, not at all.
"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 and you don't know.
"You don't know unless you stop to speak to them or you're in a meeting with them. But if you see a black person walking down the street you see straight away that they're black. They are different types of racism."
She went on to say she would "of course" condemn antisemitism, adding she gets "weary of people trying to pin the antisemitic label on me" as she had spent "a lifetime fighting racism of all kinds".
Jones said on Twitter there was "nothing wrong" with what Abbott said.
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with anything Diane Abbott says here," he posted.
"Labour is saying that black people are forbidden from describing their lived experience.
"The same Labour whose leader does speeches about migrants which sound ripped off from Enoch Powell."
Abbott 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.