LABOUR was warned it is taking the black vote for granted by protesters who called today for the restoration of the party whip to MP Diane Abbott.

The longest-serving black MP was suspended from the party pending an investigation after claiming in April that white minority groups do not suffer racism in the same way as ethnic minorities.

Last month she accused party leadership of conducting a “fraudulent” probe into her comments, arguing that other MPs had had the whip restored for worse comments.

She said it was a smokescreen for her to be replaced by a centrist candidate for her Hackney North & Stoke Newington seat.

Lucie Scott, ethnic minorities forum officer at Ms Abbott’s constituency party, said the way she was being treated was disgusting.

“Diane has always been fighting racism: the language of racism has changed,” she told the rally outside the party’s annual conference.

“The Labour Party should not be taking the black vote for granted.

“We find ourselves in a situation where black members are being disenfranchised.”

Kingsley Abrams, a Unite delegate, said that he met Britain’s first female black MP in 1984 and “to now accuse Diane Abbott of being racist is quite ridiculous.

“I’ve never known a bigger anti-racism campaigner than Diane.”

Streatham MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said: “I don’t think it’s right that she’s been treated this way.

“I don’t think people realise the extent to which this has clouded people’s view of the party. People don’t take kindly to how Diane is being treated.”

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary and president of the TUC, said: “To us it seems how you get treated in disciplinary matters varies according to your political allegiances.”