“Her treatment not only violates natural justice and common decency but is an example of the systemic racism highlighted in the Forde report on factionalism in the Labour Party commissioned by Starmer himself.”
Prominent Black Britons have penned an open letter to the Labour Party over the appalling treatment of leading movement figure and Britain’s first black female MP Diane Abbott. You can read the letter in full below.
We the undersigned are appalled at the Labour Party’s treatment of Diane Abbott, Britain’s first Black female MP.
Ms Abbott, one of Britain’s longest serving Members of Parliament, says she has been barred from standing in the constituency she has served for 37 years because of a poorly worded letter for which she immediately apologised.
We believe this is disproportionate, undemocratic and vindictive.
Sir Keir Starmer’s denials on this matter must be treated with some scepticism.
Just last Friday he said the investigation into her conduct had not been resolved even though Abbott had satisfactorily completed the disciplinary process in February.
Indeed the fact that the party reached its conclusion several months ago and failed to readmit her to the parliamentary party until earlier this week, after the story broke, indicates a determination to humiliate her.
Coming from a community where discrimination is a daily reality, we know unfairness when we see it.
Her treatment not only violates natural justice and common decency but is an example of the systemic racism highlighted in the Forde report on factionalism in the Labour Party commissioned by Starmer himself.
Criticisms of Diane Abbott, the barrister Martin Forde KC concluded, “are not simply a harsh response to perceived poor performance – they are expressions of visceral disgust, drawing (consciously or otherwise) on racist tropes, and they bear little resemblance to the criticisms of white male MPs elsewhere in the messages”.
An Amnesty International investigation into online abuse in 2017 found that Ms Abbott received almost half of all abuse against women MPs active on twitter in the first half of 2017.
Just two months ago it was revealed that the Tory party’s chief funder had told a meeting: when you see Ms Abbott on television “you just want to hate all Black women” And said the MP “should be shot”.
In the ensuing furore, the Labour party then tried to fundraise on the back of Abbott’s predicament, even as they continued to exclude her from the parliamentary party.
Given Labour’s recent embrace of others who have championed causes far more objectionable to its core values and its commitment to stamp out antisemitism in its ranks, the treatment of Abbott also smacks of a disgraceful double standard.
It is all the more upsetting given that Black communities have been among Labour’s most loyal supporters. But that loyalty has never been unconditional.
And if the disrespectful, callous, bullying treatment of the country’s most senior, veteran Black MP is not rectified and reversed, that relationship may be ruined beyond repair.
Signed,
David Harewood OBE, actor
Lenny Henry, comedian
Gary Younge, professor
Heather Small, singer
Yomi Adegoke, author
Afua Hirsch, broadcaster and columnist
Reni Eddo-lodge, author
Emma Dabiri, author
Misan Harriman, director
Linton Kwesi Johnson, poet
Simon Frederick, director
Carys Afoko, podcaster
Adrian Lester, actor
Diane Evans, author
Jackie Kay, novelist
Azieb Pool, journalist and author
Lemn Sissay, poet
Giles Terera, actor
Patrick Younge, media executive
Sharmaine Lovegrove, publisher
Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, activist, author & lawyer
Joseph Patterson, editor-in-chief at Complex UK
Lola Olokosie, teacher and writer
Bishop Dr. Desmond Jaddoo MBE, minister of religion and campaigner
Kayne Kawasaki, historian and cultural theorist
Ros Griffiths, community organiser
Afua Adom, journalist and broadcaster
Rowena Twesigwe, media and communications consultant
Lynda Smith, self-love & empowerment coach
Hugh Woozencroft, presenter
Maxine Watson, executive producer
Nelson Abbey, author
Scarlette Douglas, TV presenter
Juliana Olayinka, presenter
Ayo Bakare, TV producer
Marvyn Harrison, founder of Dope Black Dads
Priscilla Nwikpo, broadcaster
Ngozi Fulani, founder of Sistah Space
Rosanna Lewis, organiser at Sistah Space
Djanomi Robinson, operations manager at Sistah Space
Stushie, Miss Reggae Gold
- Six Labour-Affiliated Trade Union General Secretary have written to Keir Starmer calling on the Labour Leader to let Diane run as Labour Candidate.
- Labour Peers Baroness Christine Blower and John Hendy KC have written to Keir Starmer delivering a 17,000-strong petition calling for Diane Abbott to be Labour’s candidate.
- Young Labour and Labour Students members have called on the Labour Leader to confirm that Diane Abbott will be the Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
The whole issue re D Abbott has been a witch hunt.
Starmer has no morals no scruples and cannot stick to anything he’s ever stood for
Water rail power re- nationalisation
He forgets we once had a British national oil company based in Glasgow.
Sacrificed on the alter of so called free trade
He’s falling into the Tory trap by committing to all kinds of tax issues that he cannot possibly keep.
Austerity under labour looks like austerity under the tories
Same book different cover.
Solidarity Diane
IMO