NINE black Labour MPs have written to Sir Keir Starmer to warn that the indefinite delay to the Forde inquiry risks giving a strong impression that the party is “not taking anti-black racism seriously.”

Diane Abbott, Dawn Butler, Marsha de Cordova, Florence Eshalomi, Kim Johnson, Clive Lewis, Chi Onwurah, Kate Osamor and Bell Ribeiro-Addy signed the statement over the delay of the inquiry’s conclusion.

The inquiry is looking into how an unredacted internal Labour report was leaked and shared over Easter weekend last year, which detailed allegations of racism against black MPs from some staff within the party HQ based on messages and emails.