Diane Abbott ‘very dismayed’ at reports suggesting she has been barred as Labour candidate

Diane Abbott expressed her happiness for having been given back the Labour whip. However, she revealed feeling extremely disappointed by rumors that she may not be allowed to participate as a Labour candidate in the upcoming general elections.

The Labour party is under a lot of stress to permit the re-election of the inaugural Black female member of parliament in her region for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. A demonstration is planned to take place at Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday evening.

This morning, an experienced Member of Parliament released a statement expressing their happiness about being welcomed back into the Labour party and being a part of the Parliamentary Labour Party once again. They expressed their gratitude towards all those who helped them throughout their journey.

My focus will be on advocating for the success of the Labour party. However, I am deeply disappointed to hear from various sources that my candidacy has been denied.

I'm very happy to have the Labour Whip reinstated and to be part of the PLP again. Many thanks to everyone who gave me their support throughout my journey. I will do everything I can to help Labour win the next election. However, it's disheartening to learn multiple reports indicate that I've been banned from running as a candidate.

On May 29th, 2024, Diane Abbott, a Member of Parliament, tweeted a message.

The announcement arrives after a considerable hiatus and just before the upcoming national vote.

When questioned about the possibility of standing for Labour, the party chose not to give an answer. The Times has released information from party insiders indicating that she will not be allowed to stand for Labour. This has triggered a renewed round of criticism for the party regarding their handling of the matter.

Yesterday, another statement was made that the examination, which led to her suspension, had been completed a few months back. However, Labour has not yet replied to this accusation.

CAST YOUR BALLOT: Is it acceptable for Diane Abbott to run for Labour once more?

I think there are some individuals close to Keir, but not Keir himself, who may have been overly influenced by shows like Scandal or the West Wing and believe that is how politics operates.

Dawn Butler, a member of the UK Labour Party, recently discussed the party's handling of Diane Abbott with journalist Victoria Derbyshire on Newsnight.

The tweet from BBC Newsnight on May 28, 2024 stated that there was a significant increase in political tensions following the recent elections in several countries. This resulted in protests and clashes between opposing factions. The tweet advised people to stay informed and safe in these times of unrest. It is important to keep up with the latest developments and exercise caution when demonstrating or getting involved in any political activity. The tweet served as a reminder that political tensions can lead to potentially dangerous situations and it is best to take necessary measures to protect oneself.

John McTernan, who provided advice to Tony Blair and is a frequent supporter of Keir Starmer, expressed his disapproval of the briefing that conveyed the message that the initial black woman MP would not have the opportunity to run again, deeming it as shameful.

Jess Barnard, who is on the left side of the political party's national executive committee, described the situation as ridiculous. Kevin Maguire, an associate editor from Mirror, expressed his desire for her to be able to run again.

Neal Lawson, who runs the cross-party campaign organization Compass, expressed his disappointment about the possibility of Diane Abbott being prohibited. He noted that it was disheartening to witness the Labour Party's previously diverse and inclusive community, known as the "broad church," becoming so restricted that it cannot accommodate a significant public figure like Abbott, even for those who do not agree with her politics.

On the other hand, it seems that the organization is not hesitant to accept ex-conservatives such as Natalie Elphicke who obviously do not uphold their principles.

Wes Streeting, the Shadow Health Secretary, was asked if his party had betrayed the person in question on the BBC's Today show.

He stated that it was up to the national executive committee of Labour to make the decision. He also chose not to express his opinion on whether or not it was best for her to remain as a Member of Parliament.

He further commented that Keir Starmer was genuinely committed to raising the level of excellence in the Labour party. Although he was unaware of the particulars concerning Diane Abbott's situation, he expressed satisfaction at her re-admittance into the party fold after her suspension had been lifted.

When asked about the claim that the investigation had already concluded several months ago and why members of Labour had not mentioned this during recent televised interviews, he refused to accept it without firsthand evidence.

Why Was Diane Abbott Suspended?

In April of last year, Abbott's ability to enforce party discipline was revoked because he suggested in a letter to The Observer that individuals who identified as Irish, Jewish, or Travellers didn't face the same level of prejudice throughout their lives as those who identified as Black.

Abbott said sorry and expressed her desire to completely retract her comments, which got a lot of negative feedback. A representative from her party described her remarks as extremely hurtful.

Abbott previously shared with LabourList that she had a belief that the party was using the disciplinary procedure as a means to prevent her from running in the upcoming election, even though the local members had already chosen her.

Last September, I expressed that my suspension was a strategic move from within the organization to hinder the voice of a Black female member who holds differing views from the current leadership's direction. Unfortunately, the situation remains unchanged.

Check out additional news and updates on the 2024 national election by browsing through our coverage section.

If you have any information that you think we should investigate or report on related to Labour, the election, or any topic, you can reach us at [email protected]. You can choose to disclose your identity or remain anonymous.

Join LabourList's daily email list and get informed about everything related to Labour. Receive briefings every weekday morning.

If you would like to contribute to our project on a monthly basis, please consider becoming one of our supporters by clicking here.

If you or your company would like to collaborate with us on sponsored activities or material, send an email to [email protected].

Do You Value Our Free And Unique Service?

LabourList's audience has grown significantly, however, we require your assistance. Our thorough reporting on the Labour party's proposals, leaders, discussions, choices, and polls is funded by contributions from our followers.