LABOUR RACE ROW
Diane Abbott SUSPENDED from Labour after claiming Jewish people haven’t suffered ‘racism’
DIANE Abbott has been suspended from Labour for saying Jewish people don't suffer racism.
The Labour whip has been removed from the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism for The Observer newspaper, the party has confirmed.
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Abbott issued an apology for the comments this morning before she was booted out.
Her letter to the Observer read: "Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from “racism”.
"They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.
"It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice.
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"But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus.
"In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships."
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The Labour MP issued a apology after the letter was widely condemned by Jewish commentators on social media.
Posting on Twitter, Abbott said: "I am writing regarding my letter that was recently published in the Observer.
"I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them.
"The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused.
"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.
"Once again, I would like to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them."
RACE ROW
Reacting to Abbott's apology, columnist for The Sun, Piers Morgan said: "And now the inevitable, laughably forked-tongued excuse to dig herself out of the hole.
"Ms Abbott actually wants us to believe her ‘initial draft’ said the complete opposite of what she thinks. Pathetic."
Before news of Abbott's suspension broke, The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: "Diane Abbott's letter to The Observer was disgraceful and her apology is entirely unconvincing.
"We have written to Keir Starmer expressing our deep concern and asking for the whip to be removed."
Comedian David Baddiel, who wrote a book about anti-Semitism called Jews Don't Count, said: "In the middle of the 20th Century, six million Jews were murdered after being categorised as an inferior race. Not sure that’s prejudice."
Jewish Labour MP Margaret Hodge said: "Diane Abbott’s letter was deeply offensive and deeply depressing.
"Keir Starmer’s response is right. No excuses. No delays.
"The comments will be investigated and she has been immediately suspended."
Tory MP Grant Shapps, who is Jewish, said: "Once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful anti-semitism.
"Keir Starmer, are you actually going to do anything?"
Tory party chair Greg Hands said: "Diane Abbott’s disgusting comments downplaying the antisemitism constantly faced by Jewish people shows the Labour party haven’t changed since being found institutionally racist.
"Keir Starmer was happy to serve alongside Abbott in his ‘friend’ Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet, and to campaign for her to become Home Secretary – legitimising her beliefs until it was no longer politically convenient.
"He now needs to take the swift and decisive action that he should have undertaken years ago."
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It comes after Sir Keir Starmer hailed a major turning-point as Labour were finally given a clean bill on anti-Semitism.
The Labour boss issued another grovelling apology to thousands of activists and members who were let down and driven out by the party after facing "appalling abuse" under ex-chief Jeremy Corbyn.
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