“Disproportionate, Undemocratic & Vindictive”: Leading British Stars Criticize Labour Party’s Handling Of Row Over UK’s First Black Female MP
deadline.comLeading Black British stars, writers and execs have become the latest to criticize the Labour Party for its controversial mishandling of a row involving the UK’s first ever Black female MP.
Diane Abbott’s return, or departure, from the party she has been an MP for since 1987 has dominated UK front pages over the past week and the likes of Lenny Henry, David Harewood and Afua Hirsch have now had their say.
In a damning open letter titled Loyalty Has Never Been Unconditional, the group of around 40 prominent Black figures said they are “appalled by the Labour Party’s treatment of Diane Abbott,” describing it as “disproportionate, undemocratic and vindictive.” Prominent stars like Henry, Harewood and Adrian Lester are signatories, along with the likes of Yomi Adegoke, whose bestseller The List is being adapted for TV by A24, the BBC and HBO, and TV producers such as Pat Younge, Ayo Bakare and Maxine Watson.
Abbott, a staunch ally of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was suspended and investigated last year by Labour after writing a letter to The Observer in which she said Jews, Travellers and Irish people “are not all their lives subject to racism.” The comments were fiery given the Labour Party’s notorious recent struggles with antisemitism.
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