The President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, has said that Diane Abbott’s readmission into the Labour Party “is an early test of resolve” for Andy Burnham’s leadership:
“Diane Abbott was originally suspended by the Labour Party in 2023 for claiming that the prejudice against Jews, and others, including Irish people and Travellers, could not be described as racism. She compared their experience of discrimination to that of people with ginger hair. She was suspended again in 2025 for doubling down on this argument, causing deep concern within the Jewish community. This is in a context where the Jewish community is experiencing historically high levels of antisemitism, including the murder of two Jews last October at Heaton Park Synagogue. Meanwhile, Traveller communities in the UK face severe, persistent discrimination, notably in housing, healthcare, and education.
“This is an early test of resolve for the Burnham administration. It is hard to conceive of the whip being restored unless there is clear and sustained evidence of genuine remorse, a proper understanding of why those comments were so hurtful, and an unequivocal recognition that antisemitism is racism. While people can learn from their mistakes, Diane Abbott’s past record is not encouraging in this regard.”