Labour Suspends Diane Abbott Second Time Amid Disciplinary Purge

Diane Abbott, the longest-serving female MP in the Commons, has been suspended from the Labour Party for a second time after repeating controversial comments she made in 2023 regarding racism and prejudice experienced by Jewish, Irish, and Traveller communities. Abbott, who previously apologized for the remarks, defended her statements in a recent BBC interview, asserting they were "factually correct" and expressed no regret for the incident. She accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's leadership of wanting her out of the party, a claim denied by Treasury Minister James Murray, who emphasized an ongoing internal investigation. This suspension follows Starmer's recent disciplinary action against four other Labour MPs for breaches of party discipline, highlighting his efforts to reassert control over the party's backbenchers. Labour has said it cannot comment further while the investigation is ongoing. Abbott's comments sparked significant controversy due to her distinction between racism based on skin color and other forms of prejudice, which she explained during the interview.