Diane Abbott Faces Backlash Over Ukraine War Description

Diane Abbott has been criticised after describing the Ukraine war as a “Nato campaign against Russia”.

The left-wing MP was readmitted into the Labour Party on Friday following a year-long suspension.

She lost the whip last year after saying she did not regret past remarks about racism – comments which triggered her first suspension from the party back in 2023.

She argued in a letter to The Observer in April 2023 that Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities experience prejudice rather than racism.

She also made a separate post on social media called the Israel Defence Forces the “Jewish Defence Force”.

In a statement on Friday, Abbott said she had returned to the party after a formal warning over that post, adding: “I am deeply sorry for any hurt caused by that conflation and apologise for any hurt caused by it.”

But her return to Labour sparked backlash on social media after it emerged she described Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine as a “Nato campaign against Russia” back in June.

Speaking at an anti-war conference, Abbott said: “We meet at a crucial time for all those who are opposed to war and strive for peace.

“Because we are not trying to stop one war, we are having to fight to stop very many wars.”

She continued: “There is a military build-up against China, there is the war and blockade in Iran and, finally, there is one of the biggest wars in Europe since the Second World War – the Nato campaign against Russia.”

The revived video sparked backlash on social media, particularly from those who support the Ukraine war and Conservative MPs.

Abbott also wrote in the Morning Star last weekend: “The reason there is such a hue and cry about military spending now is not because Russian forces are in Ukraine; that happened well over four years ago.

“No, the reason for the outlandish claims about an imminent Russian invasion is simply because Trump demanded more military spending from Nato members…

“None of this is making us any safer. On the contrary. Russia is a major military power, but Nato is engaged in a war which is now striking deep into Russian territory, provoking widespread calls for retaliation against Nato countries.”

Labour declined to comment.

Abbott’s return to the party comes after new prime minister and Labour leader Andy Burnham pledged to end factionalism within the party.

Labour insists her reinstatement was unrelated to the party’s new leadership.

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