DIANE Abbott said she was “honoured and touched” by a standing ovation given to her by SNP members on Saturday.
During a speech given by Humza Yousaf at a party event in Perth on Saturday, the First Minister voiced his support for Abbott.
Delegates then spontaneously gave Abbott a standing ovation.
It comes after Yousaf accused the Speaker in the House of Commons of “institutionalised racism” for failing to allow Abbott to speak during Prime Minister’s Questions.
Earlier this week, abuse directed at Abbott from wealthy Conservative Party donor Frank Hester was made public by The Guardian.
I am honoured and touched https://t.co/DrUB3cbbzi
— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) March 16, 2024
In 2019, Hester remarked that Abbott – who is the UK’s longest-serving black MP – made him “want to hate all black women” and that she “should be shot”.
Rishi Sunak is facing calls to hand back the up to £15 million of donations given to the party by Hester over the last year.
However, despite Abbott herself being the subject of much of the debate during PMQs, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle did not allow her to speak.
On X/Twitter, SNP MP John Nicolson posted a picture of SNP delegates in Perth standing up and applauding after Yousaf mentioned Abbott’s name.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf urges members to send message to Scottish Tory MPs
Nicolson said: “Spontaneous standing ovation in solidarity with @HackneyAbbott in Perth @theSNP March conference when @HumzaYousaf mentioned her name.
“Don’t think I’ve ever seen this for a political opponent before”.
In response, Abbott replied that she was “honoured and touched” by the gesture.
Abbott had the whip removed by the Labour Party in April 2023 over a letter she wrote which suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism “all their lives”.
Since Hester’s comment became public many within the Labour Party have called for Abbott to have the whip reinstated.
However, the internal inquiry into Abbott’s conduct remains ongoing.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article suggested that Humza Yousaf called on delegates to stand. However, they did so without encouragement.
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