Dianne Abbot - did she want to be suspended, again .

That is not really a fair summary of what Diane Abbot said. I think anyone wanting to post an opinion should maybe have a listen to what she actually said first.

I think she and David Lammy are kindred spirits. 🤷‍♀️

She repeated what she said the first time she was suspended

No. She didn't exactly say that Iam

Apologies for posting in haste and not quitting from DA. Below is my typing of an article in today’s Guardian

She said she did not regret her past remarks on racism. Her remarks two years ago that people of colour experienced racism all their lives, which was different from the prejudice experienced by Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers.

In a statement on Newsnight Abbot said “ it is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out. My comments in the interview were factually correct, as any fair minded person would accept”

In the interview with the bbc earlier on Thursday, Abbott said “clearly there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism, because you can see a Travellor or a Jewish person walking down the street and you don’t know

“I just think that it’s silly to try and claim that racism which is about skin colour is the same as other types of racism. I don’t know why people would say that.”

I instantly know whether someone is black. I don’t instantly know if someone is a Jew on appearance.

Even if I did “know” someone to be a Jew it would mean nothing to me any more than if they said they were a Catholic or indeed an Atheist.

It is to do with what brand of useless nonsense our heads were filled with when growing up.

I never understood the fascination and prejudice with red hair either. Just like the fuss made over very blonde hair.
It is just a colouring. It is just silly.

Travellers are more of a prominent issue nowdays whereas Gypsies were the thing of fairy tales when I was a child.
Many people just ape what their parents said about them even if they are largely unaffected on a day to day basis by travelling communities. It is more political than personal.

Being black however brings with it a host of possibilities for prejudice because of the long history of black people being abused and vilified by white people.
Some is overt racism some more subtle, some is undoubtedly “built in” to our politics, education, policing,Royal family, western churches.
So in that way I do understand what Diane Abbot is saying.

There is a level of sheer hatred that is spouted by the extreme racist in our society that is directed at black people that is only in my opinion matched by extreme misogynists such as those known as incels.

To be honest I’m weary of her. She fits better with the Corbyn party, I just wish she had shown some bottle and resigned to join them.

Thank you Iam, she claims what she said last year was right even though last year she apologised for it.

Quote Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 14:35:41
I instantly know whether someone is black. I don’t instantly know if someone is a Jew on appearance.

Last year a police officer officer in the Met described a man as
Openly Jewish !

Casdon

To be honest I’m weary of her. She fits better with the Corbyn party, I just wish she had shown some bottle and resigned to join them.

Same here.

Casdon

To be honest I’m weary of her. She fits better with the Corbyn party, I just wish she had shown some bottle and resigned to join them.

Me too. Professional victimhood according to my (black) taxi driver earlier today.

Anniebach

Thank you Iam, she claims what she said last year was right even though last year she apologised for it.

Quote Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 14:35:41
I instantly know whether someone is black. I don’t instantly know if someone is a Jew on appearance.

Last year a police officer officer in the Met described a man as
Openly Jewish !

Yes I do recall that. And that was ridiculous too. Was the offending Jew wearing orthodox attire?
He was at or near a protest and the police view was that he was provoking the “other side” just by being there. Police said words to the effect that they were saving him from himself. It was almost laughable.
See the difference?

Granmarderby
Yes I do recall that. And that was ridiculous too. Was the offending Jew wearing orthodox attire?
He was at or near a protest and the police view was that he was

Yes I do recall that. And that was ridiculous too. Was the offending Jew wearing orthodox attire?
He was at or near a protest and the police view was that he was provoking the “other side” just by being there. Police said words to the effect that they were saving him from himself. It was almost laughable.
See the difference?

He Was leaving a Synagogue, seems he should have waited until after dark

I do think Jewish people are subjected to hatred and persecution in a comparable degree to black people.

Although it could be argued that there race is not always as immediately apparent so that they don’t suffer the same immediate discrimination that appearance might provoke.

But nobody could deny the intensity of hatred that Jews experience or the extremes of intent - such as complete extermination of the whole race.

I agree with your taxi driver FGT.
Abbott wanted to provoke the front bench, especially Starmer. I’d have some respect for her if she’d criticised the Labour Party she was elected to serve, then gone to join this brave new Corbyn type party.

As for her comments about Jewish people not being instantly seen as Jewish in the way black /people of colour are, that’s another rather ludicrous. Comment. I’ve not heard of schools or Churches that serve a predominantly black community needing guards at their doors. Here in north Manchester they do.

Jews have been subjected to prejudice, racism, pogroms, been driven from the places they called home and then, the holocaust. I’m not denying or minimising the legacy of the slave trade but let’s not play who had it worse.

Travellers again. Easily identified if yiu know anything about that community.

Granmarderby10

Anniebach

Thank you Iam, she claims what she said last year was right even though last year she apologised for it.

Quote Granmarderby10 Fri 18-Jul-25 14:35:41
I instantly know whether someone is black. I don’t instantly know if someone is a Jew on appearance.

Last year a police officer officer in the Met described a man as
Openly Jewish !

Yes I do recall that. And that was ridiculous too. Was the offending Jew wearing orthodox attire?
He was at or near a protest and the police view was that he was provoking the “other side” just by being there. Police said words to the effect that they were saving him from himself. It was almost laughable.
See the difference?

Yes, he was wearing a kippah, which was why the police thought he would be identified as Jewish. I personally think what the police officer said was ridiculous, but it did turn out that this man had a history of provoking people.

growstuff, the provoking people but hadn’t hit my radar. My immediate thought was how provocative he might have found the Pro Palestinian chants.
It must be so difficult to police without provoking one ‘side’ or the other

Iam64 I'm not disputing what you have written about Jewish schools and synagogues and agree that it's an appalling situation. Nevertheless, I also take Abbott's point. I know Jewish people who couldn't be identified in a crowd. They look like and dress like average people and don't discuss their religion very often. It is different if you have dark skin because you can't wash the colour off. You will always stand out in a crowd of predominantly white people.

Iam64

growstuff, the provoking people but hadn’t hit my radar. My immediate thought was how provocative he might have found the Pro Palestinian chants.
It must be so difficult to police without provoking one ‘side’ or the other

Maybe he did, but he didn't need to take that route, which wasn't the direct one from the synagogue to his home. What the police officer said was stupid, but I think said in the man's best interest. The police didn't know how people in the crowd would respond to seeing somebody wearing a kippah and were taking preventative action. The man immediately contacted a number of media outlets - the ones he knew would make a political point of it. I'm afraid I don't have much sympathy with him.

growstuff

Iam64 I'm not disputing what you have written about Jewish schools and synagogues and agree that it's an appalling situation. Nevertheless, I also take Abbott's point. I know Jewish people who couldn't be identified in a crowd. They look like and dress like average people and don't discuss their religion very often. It is different if you have dark skin because you can't wash the colour off. You will always stand out in a crowd of predominantly white people.

Absolutely.

For me it isn’t about that individual. One of my teams had people of all faiths and creeds. Our three Jewish team members were as easily identifiable as the rest of our colourful/white gang

growstuff Fri 18-Jul-25 16:08:24
Iam64
growstuff, the provoking people but hadn’t hit my radar. My immediate thought was how provocative he might have found the Pro Palestinian chants.
It must be so difficult to police without provoking one ‘side’ or the other

Maybe he did, but he didn't need to take that route, which wasn't the direct one from the synagogue to his home. What the police officer said was stupid, but I think said in the man's best interest. The police didn't know how people in the crowd would respond to seeing somebody wearing a kippah and were taking preventative action. The man immediately contacted a number of media outlets - the ones he knew would make a political point of it. I'm afraid I don't have much sympathy with him.

He should have walked a direct route? Is there a route reserved
for Jews only ?

In my lifetime in my hometown I have witnessed and heard many times racist slurs and opinions against black people from school aged up to elderly (from a different time/knew no better etc etc).
It is less so now but some die hards are just more “careful” you know how it goes: the “I’m not racist but…” brigade or “I know/knew of 2 black people at work/school once”

I never heard any against Jews and didn’t know of any Jews. don’t even now - I don’t think🤔

I don’t know anything about travelling communities either, except they travel and often cause outrage because of the mess some of them have left behind them when they move on.
Individuals of that community? I know none.

I know my mum and along with others in her age group would say things about people with red hair, even her own grandchildren but also about being left handed it was as if it was an affliction to be cured. We kids knew it was a load of cobblers then.

Iam64

I agree with your taxi driver FGT.
Abbott wanted to provoke the front bench, especially Starmer. I’d have some respect for her if she’d criticised the Labour Party she was elected to serve, then gone to join this brave new Corbyn type party.

As for her comments about Jewish people not being instantly seen as Jewish in the way black /people of colour are, that’s another rather ludicrous. Comment. I’ve not heard of schools or Churches that serve a predominantly black community needing guards at their doors. Here in north Manchester they do.

Jews have been subjected to prejudice, racism, pogroms, been driven from the places they called home and then, the holocaust. I’m not denying or minimising the legacy of the slave trade but let’s not play who had it worse.

Travellers again. Easily identified if yiu know anything about that community.

I agree Iam.

Lots of traveller communities in my area and they are easily identifiable. Sadly, they do experience racism.

I think Abbot is showing her own narrow mindedness and lack of awareness of others’ lived experiences.

I wish she would leave the Labour Party and join Corbyn et al (if that ever comes to fruition). She clearly despises KS and the current LP - she’s a better fit with Corbyn.

I know that Diane Abbott is not very popular on Gransnet, but that doesn't justify misrepresenting what she actually said.