What occurs subsequent for Diane Abbott as future as Labour MP hangs in stability

Diane Abbott’s future representing Labour in Parliament hangs in the balance as row over her candidacy rumbles on.

The veteran left-winger – the first Black woman elected to the Commons in 1987 – served in Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet alongside Keir Starmer and has been a prominent figure in the Labour Party for decades.

She has been critical of Mr Starmer’s leadership of the party but had the Labour whip suspended back in April last year over a letter she wrote about racism. While the whip was restored earlier this week party bosses are yet to decide whether she will be endorsed to represent Labour in Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

A decision over her future will come by June 4 – but the chaos over the party’s selection of candidates is already overshadowing Labour’s General Election campaign effort. Here The Mirror looks at the row – and what could happen next.

Why was Diane Abbott suspended?

The former Shadow Cabinet Minister lost the whip back in April 2023 over a 126-word letter she wrote in The Observer about racism.

Ms Abbott – the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987 – was originally responding to an article by writer Tomiwa Owolade which carried the headline: ‘Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated’.

The left-winger had suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experienced prejudice, but not racism all their lives. Her comments were widely condemned by campaigners against anti-Semitism and left-wing figures at the time and she was stripped of the Labour whip. A Labour Party spokeswoman has said the remarks were “deeply offensive and wrong”.

Ms Abbott apologised at the time and withdrew her remarks.

How long did the investigation take?

This is where it gets messy. Until last week many were under the impression the investigation was still ongoing.

But a BBC Newsnight report claimed the party had written to Ms Abbott back in December 2023 to say it had concluded its eight-month probe. She was given a “formal warning” for “engaging in conduct” that in the opinion of the party was “prejudicial and grossly detrimental to the Labour Party”.

Ms Abbott was also asked to complete a two-hour anti-Semitism awareness course, which she did so in February, according to the broadcaster. But just last week Mr Starmer and members of his top team claimed the “disciplinary process” was still going on – which does not appear to have been the case.

When did Diane Abbott get the Labour whip back?

On Tuesday evening – 13 months after she was suspended – the whip was finally restored to Ms Abbott, Labour sources confirmed.

It meant she was a Labour MP again until Parliament was dissolved last night (and all seats in the Commons become vacant) ahead of the General Election.

Is she barred from standing for Labour at the General Election?

According to Keir Starmer, no. But reports emerged this week the Labour leadership has decided there are no circumstances she will stand for the party at the General Election. Ms Abbott also told the BBC on Wednesday: “Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate.”

She later posted on X: “Naturally I am delighted to have the Labour Whip restored and to be a member of the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party]. 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.”

But Mr Starmer said on the campaign trail that no decision has been taken and insisted it was “not true” she had been barred. He added: “No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott. The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day, so she’s a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) and no decision has been taken barring her.”

Today, the Labour leader also praised Ms Abbott’s career, adding: “She’s paved the path for other people coming into politics and she’s done that while facing the most abuse that any politician has ever faced.”

Who decides whether Diane Abbott stands for Labour?

Labour’s governing body – the National Executive Committee (NEC) – is now responsible for endorsing candidates to represent the party. Due to the snap election being called the decision is taken out of the hands of local members ahead of nominations for parliamentary candidates closing on June 7.

Speaking last week Mr Starmer suggested the party had an internal deadline of June 4 – next Tuesday – to make a final decision on all candidates. He added: “That will be a matter for the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee.”

But it’s important to note the Labour leader’s allies have a majority on the NEC. Mish Rahman – a left-winger and former member of the body – told Times Radio today: “When Keir Starmer says the NEC will decide Diane Abbott’s candidacy he is hiding behind technicalities. Keir Starmer has a majority on the NEC, the NEC will deliver the will of Keir Starmer.”

What has Diane Abbott said?

At a rally of her supporters at Hackney Town Hall in her constituency on Wednesday evening the veteran left-winger remained defiant.
She told the crowd she will remain the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for “as long as it is possible”.

“I remember when I first ran as a Labour MP all the way back in 1987. People thought I couldn’t win. People thought you couldn’t elect a black woman to Parliament because it had never been done before.

“But local people went out, campaigned, knocked on doors and made me Britain’s first black woman Member of Parliament. And I have to keep faith with that loyalty, I have to keep faith with my principles, I have to keep faith with supporting and speaking up for equalities, poor people, for the community here in Hackney.

What could happen if Diane Abbott is barred from standing?

She could decide time is up on her 36-year parliamentary career.

Or Ms Abbott could stand as an independent candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington. Her friend, the ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was barred from standing for the party, has gone done this route.

He launched his indepedent campaign in Islington North last night- a seat he has represented for over 40 years. He promised to be an “independent voice for equality, democracy and peace”. But the decision to run against Labour has led to him being expelled from the party.