What did Diane Abbott say about racism and anti-Semitism in the letter that led to the suspension?

Keir Starmer has dismissed reports that long-serving MP Diane Abbott has been barred from standing for Labour in the election.

It followed a morning of confusion in which Abbott herself suggested she had been disqualified from running in the July 4 election after being readmitted to the party on Tuesday following a row over racism.

In April last year, Abbott was stripped of her Labour seat after she suggested in a letter to the Observer that Jews, Irish and Travellers faced prejudice but not racism.

Following a months-long investigation by the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), she was given a vote of confidence. However, on Wednesday morning, Abbott appeared to confirm widespread media reports that Labour would disqualify her from standing for the party on July 4.

“Although group confidence has been restored, I am prohibited from standing as a Labour candidate,” she told the BBC. Abbott subsequently released a statement on X saying she was “dismayed” by the reports but would campaign for Labour.

On Wednesday, Starmer told reporters she had not been barred from standing as a Labour candidate, adding that no decision had been made. The Labour leader was personally drawn into the row after criticism that he and the Labour Party had repeatedly said in recent weeks that the investigation was ongoing, despite reports that it had been concluded five months ago.

What did she say in her letter?

In April 2023, Abbott wrote a letter published in the Observer that sparked a racism controversy. The letter suggested that while white people “with differences” suffer from prejudice, they do not suffer from the same racism as black people.

Abbott had responded to a comment claiming that Irish people, Jews and Travellers all suffered from racism in Britain.

She wrote: “It is true that many white people with special characteristics, such as redheads, can be subject to this prejudice. But they are not exposed to racism their whole lives. In pre-Civil Rights America, Irish, Jews and Travellers did not have 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-looking people shackled on the slave ships.”

Abbott later apologised, saying the “errors” were due to “a first draft” being sent to newspapers. She added: “Racism takes many forms and it is entirely undeniable that Jews have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others.”

What was decided?

In short, we don’t know. On Tuesday evening, the Times reported that Abbott was to be barred from standing as a Labour candidate, saying lifting her suspension would allow her to leave politics “with dignity”.

Banning them from representing the party would weaken potential Tories’ attacks on Labour’s stance on racism and on their own candidates.

Abbott is said to have received a “formal warning” from the NEC for “behaving in a manner which, in the opinion of the NEC, was prejudicial and highly detrimental to the Labour Party”. She was required to take part in an online learning module, which she completed in February, which the Labour Party leader reportedly confirmed via email.

However, the Labour Party’s NEC has not yet confirmed the outcome of its investigation; Starmer’s comments on Wednesday are the only official statement so far.

Yahoo News UK has contacted the Labour Party.

Why is Keir Starmer accused of lying?

Some critics, particularly on the left of the Labour Party, argue that Starmer’s actions were politically motivated and aimed at consolidating his control over the party by marginalising left-wing members and critics who followed Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Starmer’s personal role was also highlighted by a BBC report on Tuesday which claimed the investigation into Abbott was closed five months ago – although Starmer had said in recent weeks that the process was still ongoing.

Starmer has repeatedly said the inquiry had “nothing to do with him”, but Abbott previously posted on X that it had “everything to do with him”.

Last week, Starmer told LBC that a decision on Abbott would be made “very soon”. Conservative Party leader Richard Holden said this showed that Starmer had “lied to the British people” and “has serious questions to answer”.

Jacqueline McKenzie, an immigration lawyer and friend of Abbott, said on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on 29 May that she was surprised to learn the inquiry had been concluded in December. “What was really astonishing about all this was … that the Labour Party leader and senior officials said an inquiry was still ongoing,” she said. “I think it’s really up to them to explain whether they’ve been honest about that process.

Owen Jones, a former Labour supporter who left the party because of Starmer’s leadership, said: “Keir Starmer has repeatedly told the public that the investigation into Diane Abbott is still ongoing and therefore he cannot get involved. This turns out to be another lie.”

So what did Starmer say – and when?

24 April 2023

Starmer responded to Abbott’s letter, calling it “anti-Semitic.” He said at the time: “I condemn the words she used and we must never accept the argument that there is some kind of hierarchy of racism.”

Starmer did not comment on whether Abbott should stand again for her London constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington in the next general election. She said: “There are investigations going on and I have to ensure that those investigations are concluded.”

28 April 2023

Appearing on Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show, Starmer rejected any accusation that he was trying to get rid of leftists.

He said on the programme: “I was very clear, I think it was the first thing I said as Labour leader: I will root out anti-Semitism in our party. And I asked all those who have lost faith in Labour because of anti-Semitism to judge me by my actions, not my words.”

March 14, 2024

Starmer said the issue of stripping Abbott of the Labour parliamentary seat was not “resolved” – despite the inquiry closing late last year. Starmer faced pressure to reinstate the parliamentary seat following comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester. Hester reportedly said in 2019 that Abbott made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.

But Starmer said the suspension was “a completely different issue” to the racism scandal and warned against mixing the two matters – and again insisted the investigation was “ongoing”.

He told Jeremy Vine: “It was about allegations of anti-Semitism in relation to a letter… which is the subject of an ongoing investigation that is being conducted independently of me. That is not something I am leading.” He said the “independent process” was “not complete”.

24 April 2024

Starmer said the investigation into Abbott would be completed before the general election in July. Asked by Sky News about the investigation and whether she would stand as Labour’s candidate, Starmer said: “The final decision on candidates will be made in a few days, I think June 4, maybe a little earlier or later, I can’t remember exactly.”

“But within a relatively short period of time the final list of candidates will be decided and that will be a matter for the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party.”

28 April 2024

When it was announced that the investigation had been completed five months ago, Starmer said the decision would be taken “in due course”.

Asked if the inquiry would be completed in December, Starmer told broadcasters: “The process as a whole obviously takes a little longer than the fact-finding. But ultimately this is a matter for the National Executive Committee to resolve and that will happen in due course.”