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Keir Starmer denies Diane Abbott has been banned from standing as a Labor candidate
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Keir Starmer denies Diane Abbott has been banned from standing as a Labor candidate

The Labor Party launched an investigation in April last year after Abbott wrote in the Observer that Irish people, Jews and Travelers “undoubtedly experience prejudice” which she said is “akin to racism”.

The letter adds: “It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice.

“But they are not subject to racism all their lives.”

Abbott apologized and withdrew his comments shortly after they were published.

BBC Newsnight previously revealed that the party’s investigation was completed in December 2023.

He was issued a “formal warning” by the Labor Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) for “engaging in conduct which, in the NEC’s opinion, was detrimental and extremely detrimental to the Labor Party”.

He said he expected her to take an “online e-learning module” which one source said was a two-hour anti-Semitism awareness course.

Ms Abbott took the module in February, after which it is understood she received an email from the head of the Labor Party acknowledging she had completed it.

However, as recently as Friday, Sir Keir had been saying the investigation into his comments was “unresolved”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Labor needed to “clarify” this issue.

“The Labor Party has been telling everyone that this investigation into Diane Abbott is ongoing and it now appears to have concluded months ago,” he said.

The Scottish National Party said Sir Keir’s treatment of Ms Abbott was “disgraceful” and “shows a complete lack of judgement”.

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