Latest news with #Reflections
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Labour MPs back Diane Abbott after second suspension
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. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar silent as Brian Leishman thrown out of Labour 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." READ MORE: Independence campaigners react to new John Swinney referendum plan 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.
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Not true' that Labour wants Diane Abbott out, minister says
Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray said it was 'absolutely not the case' that Number 10 had wanted to remove the whip, which the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP lost on Thursday. Ms Abbott was previously suspended from the party after she suggested in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. She later apologised for the remarks and was readmitted just in time to stand as the Labour candidate in her seat at the general election last year. But in an interview broadcast this week, Ms Abbott, the Mother of the House who has represented her constituency since 1987, said she did not regret the incident, which led to a second suspension. Following her suspension, Ms Abbott told BBC Newsnight: 'It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out.' 'That's absolutely not the case,' Mr Murray told Times Radio on Friday morning. 'What's happened is Diane has made some comments which come on the back of previous comments which she made and for which she apologised some time ago.' He added that there was an internal investigation and 'we now need to let this process play out' so it can be resolved 'as swiftly as possible'. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer stripped the whip from four other Labour MPs for 'persistent breaches of discipline' as the Prime Minister seeks to reassert his grip on his back benches following a rebellion over welfare reform. 'Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing,' a Labour spokesperson said on Thursday. Ms Abbott later 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 original comments in 2023 were in a letter to The Observer newspaper, and she withdrew the remarks the same day and apologised 'for any anguish caused'. In the interview with BBC Radio 4's Reflections programme, she was asked whether she looked back on the incident with regret. 'No, not at all,' she 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. '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. There are different types of racism.' She added: '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.' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was asked if she was disappointed by the comments. 'I was. There's no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party, and obviously the Labour Party has processes for that,' she told The Guardian newspaper. 'Diane had reflected on how she'd put that article together, and said that 'was not supposed to be the version', and now to double down and say 'Well, actually I didn't mean that. I actually meant what I originally said', I think is a real challenge.' Ms Abbott entered Parliament in 1987 and holds the honorary title of Mother of the House. Her suspension comes in the same week that Sir Keir carried out a purge of troublesome backbenchers following a revolt over planned welfare reforms which saw the Government offer major concessions to rebels. Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the Government's Bill, had the whip suspended alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. Party sources said the decision to suspend the whip was taken as a result of persistent breaches of discipline rather than a single rebellion.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
‘Not true' that Labour wants Diane Abbott out, minister says
Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray said it was 'absolutely not the case' that Number 10 had wanted to remove the whip, which the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP lost on Thursday. Ms Abbott was previously suspended from the party after she suggested in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. She later apologised for the remarks and was readmitted just in time to stand as the Labour candidate in her seat at the general election last year. But in an interview broadcast this week, Ms Abbott, the Mother of the House who has represented her constituency since 1987, said she did not regret the incident, which led to a second suspension. Following her suspension, Ms Abbott told BBC Newsnight: 'It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out.' 'That's absolutely not the case,' Mr Murray told Times Radio on Friday morning. 'What's happened is Diane has made some comments which come on the back of previous comments which she made and for which she apologised some time ago.' He added that there was an internal investigation and 'we now need to let this process play out' so it can be resolved 'as swiftly as possible'. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer stripped the whip from four other Labour MPs for 'persistent breaches of discipline' as the Prime Minister seeks to reassert his grip on his back benches following a rebellion over welfare reform. 'Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing,' a Labour spokesperson said on Thursday. Ms Abbott later 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 original comments in 2023 were in a letter to The Observer newspaper, and she withdrew the remarks the same day and apologised 'for any anguish caused'. In the interview with BBC Radio 4's Reflections programme, she was asked whether she looked back on the incident with regret. 'No, not at all,' she 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. '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. There are different types of racism.' She added: '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.' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was asked if she was disappointed by the comments. 'I was. There's no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party, and obviously the Labour Party has processes for that,' she told The Guardian newspaper. 'Diane had reflected on how she'd put that article together, and said that 'was not supposed to be the version', and now to double down and say 'Well, actually I didn't mean that. I actually meant what I originally said', I think is a real challenge.' Ms Abbott entered Parliament in 1987 and holds the honorary title of Mother of the House. Her suspension comes in the same week that Sir Keir carried out a purge of troublesome backbenchers following a revolt over planned welfare reforms which saw the Government offer major concessions to rebels. Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the Government's Bill, had the whip suspended alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. Party sources said the decision to suspend the whip was taken as a result of persistent breaches of discipline rather than a single rebellion.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Powys County Times
‘Not true' that Labour wants Diane Abbott out, minister says
A minister denied Diane Abbott's assertion that the Labour leadership wants her out of the party following her suspension after she doubled down on comments about racism. Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray said it was 'absolutely not the case' that Number 10 had wanted to remove the whip, which the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP lost on Thursday. Ms Abbott was previously suspended from the party after she suggested in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. She later apologised for the remarks and was readmitted just in time to stand as the Labour candidate in her seat at the general election last year. But in an interview broadcast this week, Ms Abbott, the Mother of the House who has represented her constituency since 1987, said she did not regret the incident, which led to a second suspension. Following her suspension, Ms Abbott told BBC Newsnight: 'It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out.' 'That's absolutely not the case,' Mr Murray told Times Radio on Friday morning. 'What's happened is Diane has made some comments which come on the back of previous comments which she made and for which she apologised some time ago.' He added that there was an internal investigation and 'we now need to let this process play out' so it can be resolved 'as swiftly as possible'. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer stripped the whip from four other Labour MPs for 'persistent breaches of discipline' as the Prime Minister seeks to reassert his grip on his back benches following a rebellion over welfare reform. 'Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing,' a Labour spokesperson said on Thursday. Ms Abbott later 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 original comments in 2023 were in a letter to The Observer newspaper, and she withdrew the remarks the same day and apologised 'for any anguish caused'. In the interview with BBC Radio 4's Reflections programme, she was asked whether she looked back on the incident with regret. 'No, not at all,' she 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. '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. There are different types of racism.' She added: '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.' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was asked if she was disappointed by the comments. 'I was. There's no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party, and obviously the Labour Party has processes for that,' she told The Guardian newspaper. 'Diane had reflected on how she'd put that article together, and said that 'was not supposed to be the version', and now to double down and say 'Well, actually I didn't mean that. I actually meant what I originally said', I think is a real challenge.' Ms Abbott entered Parliament in 1987 and holds the honorary title of Mother of the House. Her suspension comes in the same week that Sir Keir carried out a purge of troublesome backbenchers following a revolt over planned welfare reforms which saw the Government offer major concessions to rebels. Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the Government's Bill, had the whip suspended alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
‘Not true' that Labour wants Diane Abbott out, minister says
Exchequer secretary to the Treasury James Murray said it was 'absolutely not the case' that Number 10 had wanted to remove the whip, which the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP lost on Thursday. Ms Abbott was previously suspended from the party after she suggested in 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. She later apologised for the remarks and was readmitted just in time to stand as the Labour candidate in her seat at the general election last year. But in an interview broadcast this week, Ms Abbott, the Mother of the House who has represented her constituency since 1987, said she did not regret the incident, which led to a second suspension. Following her suspension, Ms Abbott told BBC Newsnight: 'It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out.' 'That's absolutely not the case,' Mr Murray told Times Radio on Friday morning. 'What's happened is Diane has made some comments which come on the back of previous comments which she made and for which she apologised some time ago.' He added that there was an internal investigation and 'we now need to let this process play out' so it can be resolved 'as swiftly as possible'. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer stripped the whip from four other Labour MPs for 'persistent breaches of discipline' as the Prime Minister seeks to reassert his grip on his back benches following a rebellion over welfare reform. 'Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing,' a Labour spokesperson said on Thursday. Ms Abbott later 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 original comments in 2023 were in a letter to The Observer newspaper, and she withdrew the remarks the same day and apologised 'for any anguish caused'. In the interview with BBC Radio 4's Reflections programme, she was asked whether she looked back on the incident with regret. 'No, not at all,' she 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. '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. There are different types of racism.' She added: '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.' Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner was asked if she was disappointed by the comments. 'I was. There's no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party, and obviously the Labour Party has processes for that,' she told The Guardian newspaper. 'Diane had reflected on how she'd put that article together, and said that 'was not supposed to be the version', and now to double down and say 'Well, actually I didn't mean that. I actually meant what I originally said', I think is a real challenge.' Ms Abbott entered Parliament in 1987 and holds the honorary title of Mother of the House. Her suspension comes in the same week that Sir Keir carried out a purge of troublesome backbenchers following a revolt over planned welfare reforms which saw the Government offer major concessions to rebels. Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the Government's Bill, had the whip suspended alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. Party sources said the decision to suspend the whip was taken as a result of persistent breaches of discipline rather than a single rebellion.
