Diane Abbott says Keir Starmer ‘wants me out’ after second suspension over race row
Suspended veteran MP Diane Abbott says Starmer ‘wants me out’ after racism remarks
- Diane Abbott, a Labour veteran, has been suspended from the Labour Party for a second time, losing the whip and sitting as an independent MP.
- The suspension follows her repeating comments in a BBC interview about racism, for which she had previously apologised in 2023.
- Ms Abbott stated that her comments, which distinguished between racism based on skin colour and other forms of prejudice experienced by Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people, were "factually correct" and believes the Labour leadership "wants me out".
- A Labour spokesperson confirmed her administrative suspension pending an investigation, while a minister denied her assertion that Sir Keir Starmer wishes her out of the party.
- Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner expressed disappointment, noting Ms Abbott's previous apology for similar remarks and her current "doubling down" on them.