A letter by British Labour MP Diane Abbott on racism against Irish people is 'spectacularly stupid and unpleasant'.
That's according to LBC broadcaster James O'Brien, who was speaking after Ms Abbott was suspended from the party.
In the letter to The Observer newspaper in the UK, Ms Abbott said "many types of white people with points of difference" can experience prejudice.
But they are not subject to racism "all their lives", she claimed.
Mr O'Brien told The Hard Shoulder this is indefensible.
"While the Labour Party has been accused of operating a sort of hierarchy of racism - caring more about instances of anti-semitism than it does about other forms of racism - it's impossible to work out what point she thought she was making".
"It is indefensible".
Mr O'Brien said this is 'complicated territory' for the party.
"The inquiries into anti-semitism under [former UK Labour leader] Jeremy Corbyn - who of course would have made Diane Abbott Home Secretary in the unlikely event of him winning a general election - they found that it has been, if you like, weaponised.
"So people who had a problem with that administration, with that leadership, would perhaps exaggerate the strength of feeling about instances and accusations of anti-semitism.
"It is a complicated territory".
'No Dogs, No Blacks, No Irish'
Mr O'Brien said the short letter from Ms Abbott talks about "discrimination against Jewish people historically, without mentioning the Holocaust, and accounts for racist discrimination against Irish people historically without mentioning - well, you name it.
"Whether it's the posters in the windows saying, 'No Dogs, No Blacks, No Irish' - which were around when my Dad was looking for digs in the 1950s, early 1960s - or whether you take it right back to The Famine.
"It's just quite spectacularly stupid, as well as unpleasant".
Mr O'Brien added: "Don't hold me to this - but I'd be surprised if there was a way back in for her".
Ms Abbott later tweeted to say she withdrew her remarks and apologised "for any anguish caused."
"The errors arose in an initial draft being sent," Ms Abbot said.
"Racism takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others," she added.
My statement pic.twitter.com/Wu2h4nNOvN
— Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) April 23, 2023
Listen back here:
