Diane Abbott. Img source: www.telegraph.co.uk
May 31, 2024 Story by: Editor
LONDON — Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, confirmed on Friday that Diane Abbott, the U.K.’s first Black female member of Parliament, will be permitted to stand as a Labour candidate in the upcoming general election. Starmer’s announcement comes after a period of uncertainty surrounding Abbott’s political future.
During a campaign trip to Scotland, Starmer assured reporters that Abbott, who has served as a Labour lawmaker since 1987, is “free” to run as a Labour candidate in the election scheduled for July 4.
“She has carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life,” he remarked.
Abbott’s position within the party had been in question in recent months, particularly following the announcement of the election by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week.
At the time of Sunak’s announcement, Abbott, 70, was under suspension for comments made last year, which implied that Jewish and Irish individuals do not face racism “all their lives.”
Although Abbott promptly apologized for her remarks, the party’s decision to reinstate her earlier this week did not include confirmation of her candidacy for her northeast London constituency. Speculation intensified after Abbott suggested she might be barred from running in the general election.
Abbott has yet to respond to Starmer’s statement.
In recent days, Starmer’s efforts to convey his party’s message on various issues, such as the economy and healthcare, have been overshadowed by questions about Abbott’s status.
Despite consistently praising Abbott as a “trailblazer,” Starmer avoided directly addressing whether she would stand as a candidate, prompting accusations of purging left-wing elements from his party. This speculation is particularly fueled by Abbott’s close ties with former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled from Labour and is running as an independent candidate in his north London constituency. Source: AP News
A spokesperson for the Conservative Party seized on the situation to criticize Starmer, portraying him as a “weak leader who’s losing control of the Labour Party.”
With more than a week remaining in the campaign, Labour maintains a significant lead in opinion polls, suggesting a potential return to government after 14 years in opposition.
