Diane Abbott race row investigation completed in December

Diane Abbott

The investigation into Diane Abbott over accusations of antisemitism is said to have been completed in December 2023

PA
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 28/05/2024

- 12:19

The Corbyn ally was suspended from the Labour Party after seemingly suggesting Jewish People are not 'subject to racism'

The investigation into Diane Abbott over accusations of antisemitism is said to have been completed in December 2023.

Abbott, who was suspended 13 months ago, has not yet been readmitted into the Labour Party.


According to the BBC, Abbott has been given a formal warning and has been required to complete an "antisemitism awareness course".

But a source close to the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said she still has not been told whether she will be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate at the upcoming general election.

Diane Abbott

A source close to the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said she still has not been told whether she will be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate

PA

The Corbyn ally was suspended from the Labour Party after publishing a letter in the Guardian which seemingly suggested Jewish People are not “subject to racism”.

She said: ”In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus”.

While she acknowledged that they do suffer from prejudice, she claimed that this is not the same as racism.

Her letter was written in response to an article by Tomiwa Owolade in the Sunday paper about a report on inequality in Britain, which suggested that Jews and Travellers face more racism than black people.

Following the backlash to the letter, Abbott apologised and withdrew it.

Abbott, who is the longest-serving black MP, said it was an initial draft of the letter that was not meant for publication.

She added that Racism “takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects… as have Irish people, Travellers and many others”.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said the letter contained “hateful antisemitism”.

The Labour party told the BBC that it does not comment on disciplinary cases.

On Friday, Starmer said Abbott is "going through, and being part of and getting to the end of a disciplinary process because of something she said".

He said it "would be sorted out now within a few days because the deadline for candidates is coming".

GB News has contacted Labour for comment.

You may like