Diane Abbott has told the BBC she has been barred from standing for Labour at the general election. The former shadow home secretary was suspended in April 2023 after saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism “all their lives”.
On Tuesday it was revealed her suspension had been lifted following an investigation. But she told the BBC she will not be allowed to stand for the party in her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat.
Labour has not yet said who its candidate will be in the constituency, which had a Labour majority of more than 33,000 at the last election.The party is currently selecting remaining candidates ahead of a meeting to endorse them next week, before nominations legally close on 7 June. In a post on X, Ms Abbott said she was “delighted” to have been readmitted to the parliamentary party.
I will be campaigning for a Labour victory,” she said. But I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he was glad the suspension had been lifted.
Source: BBC
