Labour MP Diane Abbott completely ignored antisemitism at an event aimed at ending all forms of racism.
The Hackney North MP failed to mention the discrimination faced by Jews in a message read out at a Stand up to Racism talk organised on the fringes of the Labour Party’s national conference in Liverpool.
While Abbott was unable to attend the “Why a Labour Government must challenge racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism” event in person, a statement was read out on her behalf.
The veteran MP criticised “increased racism” impact on “Black and Asian people in this country as well as Muslims” in Britain but did not mention discrimination faced by Jews.
Her message read: “We are in a very difficult period. There is both a renewed war drive and a renewed austerity drive.
“Whenever either of these happen they are always accompanied by increased racism. Now that both are happening simultaneously, Black and Asian people in this country as well as Muslims are bearing the brunt of the Government attacks.
“Anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric and polices are linked. So too are the persistent attacks on asylum seekers, migrants in general, Black people and Muslims. In fact, anyone targeted by the Far Right and the racists.
“We know that attacks on the oppressed are used as a tactic of divide and rule. Those attacks are also significantly stepped up at a time when there is economic stagnation and a fall in living standards.
A message was read out on behalf of Diane Abbott at the Stand Up to Racism event
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“And the Government threatens that things will only get worse so this is a grim outlook.
“This means that we must have the maximum unity in taking on the racists and the fascists.
“It is in the vital interests of all targeted communities to be able to defend themselves and we must defend them when we do.”
Britain has seen a surge in reports of antisemitism since Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 last year.
Jewish charity The Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism in Britain, recorded 1,978 antisemitism in the first six months of 2024 alone.
It marks the highest six month tally of antisemitism incidents since it first began counting in 1984.
Stand Up to Racism co-convenor Sabby Dhalu made clear that the organisation’s event at the labour conference was aimed at tackling all form of discrimination.
She said: “I think it is important to underline that all of us need to unite against all forms of racism and no religious community is responsible for the war in the middle East or any other international issue or any other thing that any government carries out.
“So, we’ve got to unite against racism, Islamophobia and anti-semitism.”
