Labour’s race adviser ‘wishes Keir Starmer listened’ to her | Politics | News


Labour’s race adviser to Sir Keir Starmer has reportedly accused the politician of not listening to her, with some individuals around the leader said to be blocking her work.

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, reportedly made the comments in a private meeting of the party’s ethnic minority MPs and peers on Tuesday.

She is also said to have criticsed Starmer’s lack of focus on visiting diverse communities and churches with Black congregations.

Speaking at the same meeting with Sir Keir’s chief of staff Sue Gray and senior shadow ministers David Lammy, Shabana Mahmood and Thangam Debonnaire, Baroness Lawrence was quoted saying: “I was appointed as the race adviser but I haven’t been listened to. I wish Keir listened to me. There are gatekeepers who stop things from happening.”

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Following her remarks being made public by the newspaper, she clarified: “Of course I’m always going to push the party to do more as the fight for equality is never done, but I’ve known Keir for years and I’ve no doubts about his commitment to equality and fighting racism.”

“That’s why I’ve been proud to work with Labour to develop their plans for a new race equality act.”

Tensions are reportedly rising in the Labour party surrounding the ongoing investigation into MP Diane Abbott. Abbott was suspended following comments which suggested Jewish people did not face racism “all their lives”.

After these comments were met with backlash, she issued an apology for any “anguish” she may have caused and retracted her statements.

Several Labour MPs, including deputy leader Angela Rayner, have publicly shown support for Abbott, hoping she can return as Britain’s longest-serving black MP.

Although she remains a member of the Labour party, Abbott currently sits as an independent MP while her comments are being internally investigated.

Many high-ranking Labour figures have yet to voice their opinions on this issue. Yvette Cooper, during her appearance on LBC’s Tonight with Andrew Marr, stated she couldn’t comment on the independent process.

Just last week, Sir Keir staunchly condemned the racist attacks aimed at Abbott and called on Rishi Sunak to return donations given to the Conservative Party by businessman Frank Hester who reportedly suggested that Abbott “should be shot”.

However, even as accusations swirled, Abbott criticised both the Labour Party and the Conservatives for failing to adequately address racism. She expressed her disappointment in her own party too, despite remaining a member after losing the Labour whip due to allegations of antisemitism related to a letter she wrote to The Observer.

Writing in The Independent, she described the stance of the Labour leadership as “disappointing”.

She said: “It seemed equally reluctant at the outset to call out either racism or sexism.”

“In fact, a number of Labour statements were issued, and interviews given where neither word was mentioned.”

Ms Abbott’s situation was talked about at the meeting that Baroness Lawrence went to.

Someone from the shadow cabinet mentioned that the party leaders were getting criticised “from all directions” during the meeting.



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