Keir Starmer confirmed that Diane Abbott is eligible to contend for Labour in the forthcoming UK general elections on July 4th, aiming to settle an ongoing controversy over perceived exclusion of left-leaning nominees, which has marred the onset of his campaign. The Labour party head revealed this hours post his insistence at a Scottish gathering that there was no intention of barring her candidature and that the party’s chief executive board would make a decision soon. He later informed the media: “Her party membership suspension has obviously been lifted and she is at liberty to progress as a Labour nominee.”
Starmer lauded Abbott, Britain’s first black woman MP elected in 1987, as a pioneer who opened the way for others to join politics and public service. He disclosed his last interaction with Abbott, previously the shadow home secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, took place a few weeks or a few months ago in the House of Commons.
Despite her suspension from the house of Labour for comments made last year that Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities suffer from prejudice, not racism, Abbott regained her party membership recently but remained an independent MP till then. Nevertheless, after reinstating her party membership, she blamed the Labour party for attempting to “neglect” her, asserting she had been forbidden to run for the Hackney North and Stoke Newington party on July 4th.
Starmer’s intervention was preceded by support from Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and a coalition of trade unions, all asserting Abbott’s right to contest for her longstanding seat, challenging his leadership. Preeminent black personalities in entertainment, academia and literature criticised Abbott’s “discourteous” treatment in a letter to the Guardian, cautioning that such behaviour might jeopardise Labour’s most faithful support base. Earlier, Shadow Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted on how doubts over Abbott’s future had arisen in the first place, commenting on Times Radio: “We are reacting to a predicament that Diane got herself into.”
According to a statement from Momentum, the leftist advocacy group within the Labour Party, attempts to oust Diane Abbott, who they dubbed the ‘queen,’ proved fruitless as she overcame the relentless bullying and abuse she had faced throughout her career. The party leader, Starmer, put pressure on her to leave, but Abbott prevailed.
There have been denials regarding accusations that Labour aimed to systematically eliminate left-wing members. Instead, it was insisted that the recent controversial decisions were a part of an effort to enhance standards.
The major opposition party recently revoked its endorsement of two left-wing candidates, economist Faiza Shaheen and incumbent MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle. Shaheen had been blocked from being Labour’s candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green due to her liking a social media comment referring to an ‘Israel lobby’ affecting policy. This action resulted in an apology from Shaheen during the week.
She is currently employing legal representation to challenge the party’s decision, claiming that they are pursuing an agenda aimed at targeting left-wing members. Russell-Moyle, who supports Corbyn’s views, was suspended following a complaint about his behaviour, which he referred to as ‘vexatious’. As a consequence, he was disqualified from being the party’s candidate in Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven.
A Labour official declared that Abbott would be representing the party in her London constituency, and this predication is expected to be confirmed by the party’s NEC at their upcoming meeting, where they will finalise the list of candidates.
Momentum urged the Labour party to reinstate Shaheen as a candidate. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2024