FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The Shadow Home Secretary was answering a question from the audience about why Labour has “such a problem with anti-Semitism”. The MP for Hackney, which has one of the largest groups of Charedi Jewish people in Europe, said: “I take anti-Semitism very seriously. “Partly because I’ve literally spent a lifetime fighting racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination of all sorts. “But partly because in Hackney I have one of the oldest Jewish communities in the country and I respect that history.

BBC•GETTY Diane Abbott said she has fought anti-Semitism all her life

“In my constituency, I have a community of Charedi Jews that are actually subject to hate crime more than other Jews, because they wear that costume, they walk to Synagogue. “But because I take it seriously I’m not going to make it some sort of Party political gain.” Ms Abbott also added anti-Semitism is “wrong” and she has “fought it all her life” but there is more the Labour Party can do. But her awkward working by referring to costumes caused confusion and anger among some Twitter users.

BBC Diane Abbott caused confusion and anger on Twitter from her comment

Web editor of Jewish News, Jack Mendel, said: “Diane Abbott talking about Hackney Charedi community wearing 'costumes' on BBC QT was a very strange remark. “Could you imagine referring to Muslim women in headscarves /Sikh men in turbans as being 'in costume'? “Not the language of an MP good relations to the community methinks…” Referring to her comment, another Tweeter said: “Diane Abbott talking about Jews wearing costumes. "Diane, it's clothes that are worn not bloody clown costumes…”

BBC Jewish Labour MPs have also experienced online abuse from people making threats

Another said: “Is a burka or hijab a costume too, Diane?” While a third commented: “I’m sure Jewish traditional dress should not be classed as a costume.” But some people defended the Shadow Home Secretary. One Twitter user said: “Another said: “I’m sure Jewish traditional dress should not be classed as a costume.” With another claiming: “Diane Abbott referred to it as costume and it grated but it came from a good place.

Shocking Moments on Question Time Fri, January 20, 2017 We've collected the most shocking moments caught on Question Time Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 4 Nick Griffin attacks Jack Straw’s father - ‘My father was in the RAF during the second World war while Mr Straw’s father was in prison for refusing to fight Adolf Hitler’.