Diane Abbott, the first Black woman to become an MP in the UK, has broken her silence. In a revealing interview with BBC Newsnight, Abbott shared her experiences of facing racist threats and feeling unsupported by her own party.
Racist Comments and Fear for Safety
Abbott opened up about the impact of racist comments made by Tory donor Frank Hester. The businessman reportedly said he wanted to “hate all black women” because of Abbott and that she “should be shot.”
These remarks left Abbott feeling vulnerable and scared. She explained, “One of the reasons it made me frightened is two MPs have been killed in recent years.” Abbott emphasized that such comments could “wind up a certain sort of nutcase” and increase her vulnerability.
Labour’s Lack of Support Amid Threats
Despite the severity of the threats, Abbott felt let down by her own party’s response. She accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of treating her as a “non-person” during the controversy.
“If somebody was threatening to have you shot, you would have felt your party would have offered you more support,” Abbott stated.
The veteran MP expressed disappointment that Starmer never reached out to her personally. She had expected more support, including advice on safety and security.
Suspension from Labour and Alleged Antisemitism
Abbott also addressed her suspension from the Labour Party in April 2023. The suspension followed a letter she wrote to the Observer newspaper about racism. She apologized and withdrew her remarks, which were deemed antisemitic by Starmer.
The MP felt the investigation into her comments was handled unfairly. Abbott claimed she was never interviewed or spoken to during the inquiry. She believes this was part of a larger plan to “finish his clear-out of the Labour left.”
Accusations of Unfair Treatment
Abbott suggested she was treated differently compared to other MPs accused of making antisemitic comments. She felt left “in limbo” during the investigation process.
The veteran MP believes Starmer wanted to remove her as one of the last leading left-wingers in the parliamentary Labour Party. Abbott stated, “Keir Starmer is always saying, It’s the new Labour Party… and how could you make it look more new than by getting rid of Diane Abbott?”
Alleged Deal to Step Down
In a surprising revelation, Abbott claimed she was indirectly offered a deal through a “third party.” The deal would have seen her stand down ahead of the election.
“I think the idea was that they would restore the whip in the morning. And then I would stand down in the afternoon,” Abbott explained.
She rejected this offer, feeling it was designed to humiliate her.
