
Diane Abbott facing suspension after doubling down on racism remarks
Labour MP Diane Abbott is facing a potential new suspension from the party following recent comments she made about racism.
Ms Abbott stated she has no regrets about remarks made in 2023 that led to her initial suspension, where she differentiated between racism based on colour and other forms of prejudice.
In an interview with BBC's Radio 4, she reiterated her view that racism concerning skin colour is distinct from prejudice against groups like Travellers or Jewish people.
The Labour Party has announced it will investigate her latest comments, taking them "incredibly seriously" and assessing them under party rules.
This development follows her readmission to the party before the 2024 general election and comes amidst other recent suspensions of left-wing Labour MPs.
Diane Abbott facing suspension from Labour again after expressing 'no regrets' over race row letter

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The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Starmer clashes with senior MP over welfare reform
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer clashed with one of his senior MPs over welfare reform as she said she felt 'ashamed' of the 'poor' legislation the Government had put forward. Work and pensions committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams said the welfare bill was 'far removed' from Labour values as she questioned the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee. She asked Sir Keir what he would like to say to the disabled people who experienced 'fear and anxiety' before the Government made concessions on its bill. 'Well, it's very important that they feel secure and supported, and that is at the heart of what we are doing in the changes we are making to welfare and related areas,' he said. Sir Keir said he did not accept that it would take several years before labour market changes allow more disabled people to be employed following Sir Charlie Mayfield's review, due in the autumn. Mrs Abrahams asked what he would do to mitigate against a potential 50,000 newly disabled people being pushed into poverty. Sir Keir said: 'I don't accept that everything is going to take years. Some changes do take years, but not all changes take years, and we have to do work in the interim to give that support to those with disabilities.' Mrs Abrahams said she felt 'ashamed' of the 'poor' welfare legislation the Government put forward. 'This was poor legislation. It was designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people. 'It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency. 'I have to say I felt ashamed.' Sir Keir later said he thought he could 'engage Parliament more' when asked what he might do differently after his first year, but also said he wants to remind people of the 'improvements' the Government has made. After a year in office, Sir Keir was asked what he wanted the UK to look like at the end of his first term in No 10. He said: 'I want people to feel better off and there has to be a central focus on living standards. 'I want them to feel – as they will – that the health service is working much better, is there for them and their families in a way that it hasn't been for many years. 'And I want them to feel safe and secure, both in their immediate neighbourhood and as a country, both our borders and national security and defence. 'So, they're the three things that I'm focused on more than anything else.' Sir Keir's drive to improve the NHS could be derailed if resident doctors in England go ahead with strike action, which is due to begin on Friday. The Tory government faced waves of strike action in the NHS, which contributed to care backlogs. The Prime Minister has put international co-operation, including a promised one-in, one-out deal to return small boat migrants to France, at the heart of measures to control the borders. But arrivals are running at record levels for this point in a year, with the latest Home Office showing 23,534 people had crossed in small boats so far in 2025. The Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs who chair the various Commons select committees, was focusing on measures to tackle poverty. The Prime Minister, who is under pressure from within his own party to scrap the two-child benefits cap, said: 'People will not feel better-off or safe and secure if we haven't tackled poverty.' He said there were four 'limbs' to the Government's strategy: increasing incomes, decreasing costs, strengthening local support, including measures to get people into work and boosting financial resilience. 'I'm very proud of the fact that the last Labour government drove down poverty and I'm determined this Government is going to as well,' Sir Keir said.


Scottish Sun
18 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Giant US-UK armada takes to water in ‘Talisman Sabre' show of force with aircraft carriers shrouded by fighter jet fleet
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN IMPOSING US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills. The impervious aircraft carriers and fighter jet fleets are taking part in live-fire exercises in Australia which include 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 An imposing US-UK armada has taken to the water as part of the allied Exercise Talisman Sabre war drills Credit: SWNS 9 Aircraft carriers USS George Washington (top) and HMS Prince of Wales (bottom) sail in formation with US and UK warships Credit: SWNS 9 35,000 military personnel from 19 different nations took part in the Australian drills Credit: SWNS Australia marked the historic event, the largest war drills in their history, by firing missiles from its M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The HIMARS launchers were recently bought from the US and were unleashed today at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. Elsewhere, a striking display of allied naval might saw the UK and US deploy their USS George Washington and the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carriers. The UK - who sent over 3,000 troops - also used vessels such as HMS Richmond, HMS Dauntless, RFA Fort Victoria, and RFA Argus for the exercise. read more in war drills SEA OF STEEL Watch as huge fleet of terrifying new Chinese 'tank boats' takes to water The expansive multinational flotilla was shadowed by warships from Canada, Norway, and Australia as well. The huge fleet were paired up with air operations and joint ground manoeuvres which took place across Australia's Northern Territory and Queensland. Brigadier Nick Wilson told reporters after the drills: "Today was the first time the Australian Army has live-fired our long-range, multi-domain platforms being the HIMARS, so it is a remarkable day." British Defence Secretary John Healey added: "The historic bonds between Britain and Australia run deep, and through AUKUS and exercises like Talisman Sabre we are strengthening these ties for the challenges of tomorrow. "Our commitment to the Indo-Pacific is unwavering, as this huge military exercise demonstrates. "We will continue to work alongside our closest allies to maintain the security and stability that underpins global prosperity." Britain pledges more support to Ukraine as NATO warships prepare for largest drills since Cold War Talisman Sabre has been a major biennial joint exercise ever since it was first announced in 2005 between the US and Australia. This year saw dozens of other countries take part such as Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands and South Korea among others. The drills stretched all the way from Darwin to Brisbane as the allies imposed themselves across the Indo-Pacific. The waters are often closely monitored by Chinese surveillance ships. Beijing has kept a watchful eye over any naval exercises off the Australian coast during the last four Talisman Sabre exercises dating back to 2017. Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said he expects China to monitor them again this time around. Conroy said: "We'll adjust accordingly. We'll obviously observe their activities and monitor their presence around Australia. "But we'll also adjust how we conduct those exercises." 9 U.S. Navy aircraft and the George Washington Carrier participate in the dual carrier operations Credit: SWNS 9 A US F18 launches from US Aircraft Carrier, USS George Washington Credit: SWNS 9 An Australian soldier from the 1st Military Police Battalion is seen participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 Credit: Getty It all comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a six-day visit to China of his own. He is expected to hold a fourth face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Albanese said despite Chinese surveillance being a concern, he would not raise it as an issue amid the Talisman Sabre operations. China has been routinely trying to scare the West through their own military drills in recent weeks. Earlier this month, dramatic footage captured a fleet of Chinese tank boats charging through the sea in tight formation near Taiwan. And China's new giant "sea monster" warplane was spotted for the first time in the Bohai Sea. These developments have raised fears that a Chinese invasion on Taiwan could be imminent. Bringing the self-governed province back in line with mainland China has been a goal of president Xi Jinping's for a long time and recent military activity has shown that China is ready to take it back by force. The self-governing nation has been protected by the firepower of ally America for decades. The latest Talisman Sabre drills will give Taiwan further hope of protection from not only the US but also the entire allied fleet. The exercises are also aimed towards striking fear into other Western allies such as North Korea and Russia. Russia's relationship with Europe has drastically worsened as Vladimir Putin continues to defy all warnings and continue with his deadly invasion of Ukraine. But even Vlad, with all his firepower and huge army, faces a serious battle against a unified West due to his lack of aircraft carriers. Russia only boasts a single rustbucket carrier - but even that is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs. Putin's 'Ship of Shame' has played no role in the war against Ukraine and has instead been languishing in the grim Arctic port of Murmansk, in northwestern Russia. 9 A terrifying fleet of Chinese tank boats seen charging through the sea near to Taiwan earlier this month Credit: X 9 Vladimir Putin's only rustbucket aircraft carrier is poised to be scrapped after seven years of failed repairs - leaving the despot vulnerable Credit: EPA


Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Lake District mosque protesters are racist, says Labour MP
Lake District residents campaigning against the construction of a new mosque have been criticised as racist by a local Labour MP. Police were called as protesters, who support and oppose the new development, clashed on Saturday outside the building site for the controversial £2.5m mosque. Demonstrators holding placards with messages reading 'Muslims welcome here' were met with protesters holding Union flags with messages reading: 'No to the mosque' and 'Not racist! Just patriotic!'. Michelle Scrogham, a Labour MP for Barrow and Furness who attended the counter-protest, responded to the objections by saying: 'There's absolutely no place for racism in Cumbria.' She added: 'The comments that plague the social media pages constantly don't represent the people of this area. 'The people of this area have always been incredibly welcoming. We've had immigration on a mass scale for many, many years. 'Anybody that wants to come here and say you're not welcome, they're wrong. It's just utterly wrong.' Construction of the South Lakes Islamic Centre, situated in Furness, Cumbria, started in January this year. The centre will be the only masjid within a 50-mile radius, serving both the local Muslim community and visiting tourists. The group said the space would cater to the 40 to 50 practising Muslim doctors at Furness General Hospital and their families. Protests have previously taken place on the site, with both sides of the debate shouting at each other across the road last month as the anti-mosque group waved the Union flag. Paul Jenkins, who organised a counter-protest on behalf of Furness Stand Up To Racism, said: 'The protest against the Islamic Centre does not speak for the majority of people in Dalton or Furness. 'The majority of our people here are from Furness, including Dalton. We celebrate our multicultural, multi-faith community and defend the right of the Islamic Centre to be here.' Henry Goodwin, a demonstrator, said: 'There are five British values, which include tolerance of other people's faiths and beliefs. 'We're standing up for proper British values.' Opponents have criticised the development, saying it is not needed in Furness, although those demonstrating against the mosque refused to speak to reporters on the ground. Residents have previously voiced their concerns over social media about the construction of the mosque, calling it an ' absolute monstrosity '. Another said: 'Absolutely disgusting… total blot on the landscape … totally unwelcome … how on earth has this been passed in planning?' One other resident said: 'There goes the beautiful Lake District – with a huge building plonked there.' Planning approval for the mosque was granted in Dec 2022 after 30 objections were raised.