Has political trailblazer Diane Abbott trashed her own reputation?

Diane Abbott was Britain’s first black woman MP, but after decades of speaking out about racism, an intervention on that very topic has attracted universal condemnation.

The backlash after Ms Abbott’s letter to The Observer has been big and broad. It may mark the beginning of the end of her career in parliament.

Even though her apology was swift, Ms Abbott’s claim that her letter was an early draft incorrectly sent to the newspaper provokes yet more questions about her views.

Her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency includes Stamford Hill, one of the largest orthodox Jewish communities in Europe.

When I visited, there was anger but not surprise. Ms Abbott is a long-time ally of Jeremy Corbyn, himself now an independent MP due to his interventions on antisemitism.

One woman told me Ms Abbott had “foot-in-mouth disease” but added that as few fellow Orthodox Jews read the news, many would be unaware of their MP’s controversial comments.

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I did meet one Jewish supporter of Ms Abbott: he claimed she had made a mistake and was definitely not racist.

Keir Starmer promised “zero tolerance of antisemitism” and he acted swiftly in removing the Labour whip. Ms Abbott now sits alongside Jeremy Corbyn – and 14 others – as an independent MP.

Yet there are growing calls – including from the Campaign Against Antisemitism – for Labour to expel her.

If that happens or even if the Labour whip remains suspended, Ms Abbott’s 36 years as an MP may soon be over. She will be banned from standing as a Labour candidate again.

Sir Keir once worked side by side in the shadow cabinet with Ms Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn. Now neither are Labour MPs and both could be out of parliament at the next election.