Labour Suspends Diane Abbott After Radio Interview

Diane Abbott, the longest-serving female MP, has been suspended from the Labour Party for a second time following her reiteration, in a BBC Radio 4 interview, of her 2023 comments distinguishing racism based on skin colour from other forms such as antisemitism or anti-Traveller prejudice. Despite having previously apologized, Abbott now states she has 'no regrets,' intensifying criticism from Jewish and Traveller groups and leading to renewed accusations of antisemitism. Labour has withdrawn the party whip and launched a new investigation into her conduct. Abbott claims that party leadership is actively seeking to remove her and rejects being labelled antisemitic, highlighting her lifelong opposition to all forms of racism. This incident occurs amid wider disciplinary actions in the party, with four other MPs recently losing the whip for unrelated breaches. The Labour Party has declined further comment during the ongoing investigation.