Leicester MP Claudia Webbe,  comes out in support of Diane Abbott after Labour Party suspension over racism letter 

Ms Abbott came under fire for a letter she wrote in the Observer

A Leicester MP has come out in support of Dianne Abbott. Ms Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has been suspended from the Labour Party over a letter on racism which she wrote for the Observer.

She said, while white people “undoubtedly experience prejudice” which is “similar to racism”, they “are not all their lives subject to racism” and referenced the Irish, Travellers and Jews as examples. Her remarks, published yesterday, caused Labour to suspend Ms Abbott, saying they were “deeply offensive and wrong”.

Ms Abbott publicly apologised yesterday morning for “the anguish caused by her remarks” and “unreservedly withdrew them”, saying it was an early draft of her letter which was published. Independent MP for Leicester East Claudia Webbe said she stands in “solidarity” with the suspended MP and said “the pile on against her must stop” in a Tweet last night.

Conservative MP for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston Neil O’Brien also waded into the debate. He said: “Labour MP Diane Abbott argues that white people can’t experience racism – her absurd claim that the Jews have never experienced racism will appal survivors of the Holocaust.”

The letter published by the Observer came in response to a piece by writer Tomiwa Owolade in the Guardian which questioned the view that racism “only affects people of colour”. It read: “Tomiwa Owolade claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from “racism”.

“They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.

“It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this 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. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on slave ships.”

Ms Abbott said in her apology: “I am writing regarding my letter that was recently published in the Observer. I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them.

“The errors 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. Once again I would like to apologise publicly for the remarks and any distress caused as a result of them.”

“I want to place on record my solidarity with Diane Abbott,” Ms Webbe tweeted. “She has retracted and disassociated.

“Now the pile on against her must stop. We must oppose all forms of racism, always.”

A Labour Party spokesman told the BBC: “The Labour Party completely condemns these comments, which are deeply offensive and wrong. The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation.”

The party declined to comment on when an investigation would begin, or who would lead it.

Claudia Webbe MP is the member of Parliament for Leicester East. You can follow her at www.facebook.com/claudiaforLE and twitter.com/ClaudiaWebbe