Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has denied that his party have barred Diane Abbott from standing as its candidate in the general election. However, the situation is far from resolved with chaos and confusion reigning.
Abbott is, of course, the first Black woman Labour politician and has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987. She was suspended by Labour in April last year over contentious comments she made about Irish, Jewish and Traveller people not facing racism “all their lives”. Although she promptly apologised and withdrew the remarks the party opened an investigation. Its findings have not been publicly disclosed. However, as the Guardian reported:
Starmer said this week that the investigation into her conduct was continuing. But it emerged on Tuesday it had concluded in December, with Abbott being told to complete an online antisemitism training course in February.
Which begs the question, why didn’t Starmer and the Labour leadership announce that the investigation had concluded?
Keir Starmer has repeatedly told the public that the investigation into Diane Abbott is ongoing, so he can't get involved.
That turns out to be yet another lie.
Meanwhile his allies have been protected for behaviour ranging from racism to sexual harassment. https://t.co/3ifopu6jCL
— Owen Jones (@owenjonesjourno) May 28, 2024
What now?
The BBC reported on the morning of Wednesday 29 May that Abbott had told one of their journalists that she had been readmitted to Labour’s parliamentary ranks this week but that she was “banned from standing as a Labour candidate” in the 4 July election.
Rumours have been rife that Abbott could be replaced as the Labour candidate for her constituency in next months elections. But, when Starmer was asked about Abbott not standing as a Labour candidate in the upcoming elections he insisted:
No that’s not true. No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott.
About as clear as mud, then. As the BBC reported:
It is unclear if his comments are a statement of technical fact – no formal decision about her candidacy will be made until Labour’s national executive meets next week – or a shift in the direction of travel.
At this stage, it remains unclear if Abbott is restored to the parliamentary party only and her candidacy for her constituency appears to be yet to be confirmed. On social media, she said:
Naturally I am delighted to have the Labour Whip restored and to be a member of the PLP.
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. pic.twitter.com/OKdyLLOmvE— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) May 29, 2024
This appears to suggest that she has not yet heard directly from Labour. If Abbott were white she would not have been treated so disrespectfully. Her apology would have been accepted, her years of service recognised, and she would be left to get on with campaigning for her constituency.
Diane Abbott historically targeted
Instead, this saga threatens to become a major campaign distraction for Labour. After how Starmer’s treated Abbott, that’s the least they deserve. Many on the left-wing – in stark contrast to Starmer’s centrism – have taken a dim view of all this.
Six unions have written to Starmer warning that they expect to see her standing as a Labour candidate in the general election:
We are pleased to see the whip has been restored to Diane Abbott MP.
Following our letter to the party, we expect to see her standing as a labour candidate in the general election. pic.twitter.com/aH0XCvkva3
— ASLEF (@ASLEFunion) May 29, 2024
Notably, Aslef, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, Unite, the National Union of Mineworkers, the Communication Workers Union, and the Fire Brigades Union said:
For over thirty years – since becoming the first Black woman ever elected to Parliament – Diane has stood in every election as a Labour party candidate.
The confusion around Abbott’s position is galling given her prestige as a prominent Black MP. However, it is also characteristic of the misogynoir she has faced repeatedly both through her own party, and others. As journalist Melissa Sigodo explained:
‘It’s a slap in the face not only to Diane Abbott but to Black people watching’ pic.twitter.com/I4meZLRlrO
— Melissa Sigodo (@melissasigodo) May 29, 2024
Unionist Howard Beckett recalled the scandalous scenes when an investigation into abuse faced by Abbott herself saw her ignored:
The day when Lindsay Hoyle chaired a debate about abuse suffered by Diane Abbott but would not include Diane
Diane was wearing bright red. 46 times she stood to catch his attention
Hoyle was doing the bidding of Starmer that day
Establishment racism.pic.twitter.com/G7TJLBqlUN
— Howard Beckett (@BeckettUnite) May 29, 2024
As the Canary’s James Wright reported at the time:
The establishment wants to use Abbott’s ethnicity as a tool to distract from its own failings. That was made clear when speaker Hoyle ignored Abbott as she tried to speak on the death threat made against her. We must continue to call this out.
The Runnymede Trust came out strongly to condemn the racist abuse and double standards Abbott faces:
The double standards in the treatment of Diane Abbott is abhorrent.
Racism and misogynoir against Black women in the workplace is rife across society; our political class is no exception.
Our utmost solidarity with @HackneyAbbott 🖤 pic.twitter.com/zvF4sJYiRk
— Runnymede Trust (@RunnymedeTrust) May 29, 2024
Author Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu argued:
This is how you repay the 1st Black British Female MP after decades of inspiring service. The disrespectful, disgraceful & dehumanising treatment of Diane Abbott by @UKLabour is unequivocally, undeniably racist & viciously misogynoir. Starmer only restored the whip because of public outcry but his plan was always to ban her. Keir Starmer is a 2 faced lying double crossing political prostitute of the highest order.
MP Claudia Webbe called out Labour’s racist treatment of Abbott:
Labour is no longer a party for due process, fairness or justice.
Its treatment of Diane Abbott is racism to the core; the regulation and control of black people, especially Black women on the left.
They should hang their head in shame.
— Claudia Webbe (@ClaudiaWebbe) May 28, 2024
Same old Starmer
Starmer has previously insisted that the disciplinary process is independent and that the party’s executive board would decide whether she could stand in July. It is due to meet next week to finalise the party’s formal list of candidates. He said:
This is a matter that will have to be resolved by the National Executive Committee and they’ll do that in due course.
Why should we believe them?
If today’s debacle has shown anything, it’s that Diane Abbott has the support of many left-wing folks who will not let her be quietly pushed out of the Labour party. Keir Starmer had better think again if he thinks we haven’t noticed that Diane Abbott is facing yet more misogyny as a dark-skinned Black woman in the Labour party.
Instead, she must deal with the chaos and confusion that the Labour leadership have caused, as she has had to do far too often.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse
Featured image by Socialist Appeal/Wikimedia Commons via CC 2.0, resized
