Bookmaker apologises after being accused of 'casual racism' over Abbott photo

Star Sports Bookmakers has apologised after being accused of racism for posting a picture of a man mocking Diane Abbott on Twitter.

The tweet, which has since been deleted, was posted on Friday night and showed a man with his face covered in dark make-up at a darts competition holding up a sign reading 190.

The sign was a reference to the shadow home secretary's blunder with policing numbers in a radio interview during the General Election campaign.

The maximum score with three darts is 180.

"An early contender for best fancy dress costume at the #PDC #WorldDartsChampionships tonight at #AllyPally," was the caption.

Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, responded to the tweet, saying: "Wow @StarSports_Bet - guess it says what you really think of your customers that you promote this..hoping @Yourallypally expect better about those using their beautiful venue …as bookies or punters… #21stcenturycalling."

However, the bookmakers defended itself at first, responding: "This wasn't some guerrilla marketing stunt Stella, one of our team attended on a social night out. We thought it was a very impressive attempt at fancy dress and merely shared it with our followers. Please stop taking things so seriously."

Ms Creasy then responded, calling the bookmakers out for "promoting casual racism".

Star Sports Bookmakers then told Sky News they would be making no further comment, but later apologised for sharing the image.

"On Friday evening we tweeted a photo taken at the darts featuring a member of the audience dressed in a Diane Abbott costume," the firm said on Sunday.

"It was not meant to cause offense (sic) with the humorous element in our eyes being the '190' scribbled on the sign.

"We have since removed the photo and would like to apologise to all those who were offended by it."

Other users also responded to the tweet with disdain, with one writing: "Ok I'm done with trying to explain racism to grown ups who should know better. This is 2017, not 1977."

Another said: "So racism & misogyny are ok with you as long as it's not a marketing stunt? Good to know your company's values."

However, not everyone shared the view that the costume was offensive.

"Get a sense of humour stella for god sake," one person wrote.

In September, research by Amnesty International found that of over 25,000 abusive messages and tweets sent to female politicians in the six months leading up to the general election, half were directed at Ms Abbott.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said that although she was subjected to abuse when she was elected 30 years ago, the sheer volume she now receives is overwhelming.