In a statement, she wrote: “The internal Labour Party disciplinary against me is fraudulent. I was told by the Chief Whip to actively engage with an investigation. But the Labour Whips are no longer involved – it is now run entirely out of the Labour Party HQ, which reports to Keir Starmer- and there is no investigation.”
Abbott’s letter had been her response to an article written by Tomiwa Owolade in the Sunday newspaper about a report on inequality in Britain, which showed that Jews and Travellers face more racism than black people.
Abbott wrote that Jewish, Irish and traveller communities did not experience racism but only “prejudice”, claims that Sir Keir Starmer branded “antisemitic”.
The errors, she explained, “arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused”.
Racism “takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects… as have Irish people, Travellers and many others”.
In her published letter, she had written that prejudice was “similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable”.
It was true, she had written, that “many types of white people” could experience prejudice. “But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote.”
In her statement, Abbott claimed that at the time Starmer “almost immediately pronounced my guilt publicly."
She adds: “This completely undermines any idea that there is fairness or any natural justice. It is procedurally improper.
“To be clear, I immediately and unreservedly apologised for my letter.”
She added: “Others have committed far more grave offences, and belated or grudging apologies have been wrung from them. Yet they have been immediately excused as supporters of his leadership.”
Abbott continued: “The Labour Party has not charged me with antisemitism because they know it is untrue. As someone who has fought all forms of racism all my life, I would consider it a very serious allegation. Instead it has been used to smear me, my reputation and decades of anti-racist work.”
In response, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party rightly expects the highest standards of behaviour from its elected representatives, and has introduced an independent complaints process to investigate cases.
“We do not give a running commentary on ongoing investigations.”
