Diane Abbott faces Labour suspension after 'doubling-down' on Jewish racism claims

Despite apologising for “any anguish caused” and admitting that the letter had been a draft published in error, Abbott earlier today said that she did not regret the controversial claims.

She told the BBC: “Clearly, there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don’t know [their background].

"You don’t know unless you stop to speak to them or you’re in a meeting with them.

“But if you see a black person walking down the street, you see straight away that they’re black. They are different types of racism.”

Responding to Abbott's latest remarks, a Labour Party spokesman said: “There is no place for antisemitism in the Labour Party.

"We take these comments incredibly seriously, and will assess them in line with Labour Party’s rules and procedures."

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However, senior Labour sources have suggested that the veteran Labour MP is now expected to lose the whip after “doubling-down on something she previously had the whip withdrawn for”.

"She shouldn’t be immune because she’s the Mother of the House," the Labour insider told The Times.

Abbott, who became Britain's first black female MP in 1987, claimed it was "silly to try and claim that racism which is about skin colour is the same as other types of racism".

"I just don't know why people would say that," the Hackney North & Stoke Newington MP added.

Abbott had the whip restored after her supporters pushed for Sir Keir Starmer to reinstate her as a Labour candidate ahead of the 2024 General Election.

The 71-year-old had threatened to contest the seat as an independent, raising the spectre of Starmer's victory being blotted by yet another Jeremy Corbyn-style scalp.

Abbott's North London constituency, which was won by Labour with a reduced majority of 15,080 votes last July, has one of the highest proportions of Jewish residents in the UK, with tens of thousands living in the Stamford Hill area.

Since returning to the House of Commons for a 10th successive election, Starmer yet again faced calls to suspend the Labour veteran after Abbott mistakenly branded the Israel Defence Forces as the "Jewish Defence Force".

A Labour Party spokesman responded at the time by reiterating that “all complaints are taken seriously" and suggested that the comments would be assessed in line with established rules and procedures.

However, Abbott's latest speculated suspension comes just hours after the Prime Minister purged four left-wing Labour rebels.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff were the first three Labour MPs suspended following their role in the welfare revolt earlier this month.

York Outer MP Rachael Maskell, who was seen by No10 as the ringleader spearheading the revolt, was named as the fourth suspended Labour MP just a few hours later.

However, yesterday's purge resulted in some left-wing Labour MPs warning the Prime Minister that his authority is now at risk.

Liverpool West Derby Ian Byrne, who was previously suspended after rebelling on scrapping the two-child benefit cap last summer, declared that Starmer's "decisions don't show strength".

Ex-Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon added: “After the suspension of myself and others last year for opposing the two-child benefit cap, I had hoped the leadership would take a different approach to backbenchers.

“Sadly, it isn’t yet doing so. To help stop a Reform Government, it really must do so.”