Diane Abbott row in ANOTHER twist as Sir Keir Starmer wades into saga
The Labour Party has been plunged into chaos overnight over the restoration of the whip to veteran MP Diane Abbott
PA
The row over Diane Abbott has become even more confusing, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming she has not been barred from standing as an MP.
The Labour Party was plunged into chaos overnight over the restoration of the whip to veteran MP Diane Abbott. It was claimed last night that Abbott's 37-year career as a Labour MP was over after a drawn-out investigation into allegations of antisemitism - but conflicting reports over how the saga panned out have become a distraction from Labour's campaign on day seven of the General Election.
While the party restored the whip to the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, sources told the Times that the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) would not endorse her as a candidate.
Labour officials are denying a deal had been done, while a source close to Abbott told Politico that she had offered to "stand down with dignity" after having the whip restored.
The Labour Party has been plunged into chaos overnight over the restoration of the whip to veteran MP Diane Abbott
PA
They claimed she had been completely blindsided by allegations that she had been forced to stand down.
But this morning, Abbott herself came out and told the BBC: "Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate."
However, she later wrote on social media that she was "dismayed" at reports she had been barred from standing as a candidate.
She said: "Naturally I am delighted to have the Labour Whip restored and to be a member of the PLP.
"Thank you to all those who supported me along the way. I will be campaigning for a Labour victory. But I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate."
Just hours later, Starmer doubled down, telling reporters that "no decision" had been made on whether Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate at the upcoming election.
The Labour leader told broadcasters: “I’ve seen various reports, I can only tell you what the factual situation is – as you know, the whip has been restored to Diane Abbott and no decision’s been taken barring her from standing. That’s the factual position and I’ve been happy to say that when asked to do so.”
Earlier this week, Starmer suggested the investigation into Abbott was still ongoing. On Friday, he said Abbott is "going through, and being part of and getting to the end of a disciplinary process because of something she said".
He said it "would be sorted out now within a few days because the deadline for candidates is coming".
But Jacqueline McKenzie, a human rights lawyer, hit out at the remarks. She said: "What was really astonishing was the fact that just this week we saw Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, as well as senior officials saying that an investigation was still underway and I think it’s really incumbent upon them to explain, have they been honest about this process.
"And I think that’s what’s really shocking.”
Speaking to GB News this morning, Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he doesn't know "what decision has been made on what basis", but added that he "respects her achievements" as the first black female MP.
He said: "I absolutely acknowledge and respect her achievements in politics and being that trailblazer.
"And the second thing I would say, you mentioned reports this morning - I've only been picking this up as I've been going along. I'm not involved in the process. I don't know what decision has been made on what basis, I've been out talking about NHS waiting lists."
This morning, Abbott said: "Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate."
PA
The Corbyn ally was suspended from the Labour Party after publishing a letter in the Guardian which seemingly suggested Jewish People are not “subject to racism”.
She said: ”In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus”.
While she acknowledged that they do suffer from prejudice, she claimed that this is not the same as racism.
Her letter was written in response to an article by Tomiwa Owolade in the Sunday paper about a report on inequality in Britain, which suggested that Jews and Travellers face more racism than black people.
Following the backlash to the letter, Abbott apologised and withdrew it.
Abbott, who is the longest-serving black MP, said it was an initial draft of the letter that was not meant for publication.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
She added that 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”.
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said the letter contained “hateful antisemitism”.
Labour has been contacted for comment.
You may like
