𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Jewish groups said they were “very sad and very concerned” after Diane Abbott was let back into the Labour Party. The veteran left-winger was suspended last July in an antisemitism row after repeating comments about Jewish people that she had previously apologised for.

Ms Abbott was first stripped of the Labour whip in 2023 after a letter to a newspaper in which she suggested that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism. The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP later apologised and was readmitted to the party, but was kicked out again when she defended the remarks and insisted she did not regret the incident.

Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said he was “very sad and very concerned” by Ms Abbott’s return.

He told Newsnight: “I’m sad because in many ways, Diane Abbott is an icon, the longest-serving female MP, the first black female MP, Mother of the House.

“And so you’d hope that we would find common cause in fighting racism in all its different guises.

“But over and over again, she’s making these statements that are offensive to the Jewish community at a time when there is heightened anti-Semitism, deadly anti-Semitism.”

He added: “Jews and black people should be fighting racism together.”

The Jewish Leadership Council added: “Diane Abbott was suspended from the Labour Party after she doubled down on remarks she had previously apologised for.

“Her comments downplayed the seriousness of racism against Jewish people, which is not only offensive but demonstrably absurd given recent events in the UK.

“Given her lack of public contrition prior to today’s announcement, the decision to reinstate Abbott’s membership will be seen as an exoneration for her actions.”

It added that Prime Minister Andy Burnham “must explain how returning the whip to Diane Abbott is consistent with his zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism”.

In a statement on social media, Ms Abbott said: “I have been and remain a lifelong anti-racist and remain deeply committed to opposing racism in all its forms.”

It is understood that her readmission followed formal Labour Party processes and was not linked to Mr Burnham becoming party leader.