MP Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour Party for a second time, a spokesperson said, after she doubled down on comments about racism for which she had previously apologised. A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Diane Abbott has been administratively suspended from the Labour Party, pending an investigation. We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing.”
The move means the whip is automatically suspended in the House of Commons for the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP, it is understood. Ms Abbott was suspended by the Labour Party in 2023 after writing a letter to the Observer comparing racism experienced by people of colour with that seen by other groups.
She apologised for any anguish caused by the remarks, which drew criticism from Jewish and Traveller groups, and was readmitted to the party before the 2024 general election. But in a new interview with BBC Radio 4’s Reflections programme, she said she did not look back on the incident with regret.
