UK's first Black female MP Diane Abbott 'free to go forward as a Labour candidate': Keir Starmer

Britain’s first Black female lawmaker, Diane Abbott, on Wednesday (May 29) claimed that she was being barred by the Labour Party from standing as its candidate in the upcoming general election. However, the party leader Keir Starmer later denied this claim saying no decision had been taken.

But Labour leader Keir Starmer later said on May 31 thatAbbott is "free to go forward as a Labour candidate" at the general election.

Was Abbott really barred from running?

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Abbott, 70, is Britain’s longest-serving Black member of parliament and a leading figure of the Labour’s left wing who has campaigned on such issues as racism, poverty and international affairs since she was first elected nearly four decades ago.

However, she was suspended by Labour last year after contentious comments she made about Irish, Jewish and Traveller people saying that they have not faced racism “all their lives”.

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Although Abbott promptly and “unreservedly’ apologised and withdrew the remarks, she was suspended last year.

The ex-shadow home secretary’s suspension was liftedon Tuesday (May 28)following the investigation by the party. The findings of the probe were not publicly disclosed.

The 70-year-old lawmaker received online racist and sexist abuse after a letter to a newspaper about Jewish people and racism, saying that while they “undoubtedly experience prejudice,” they are “not all their lives subject to racism.”

While she was readmitted to Labour’s parliamentary ranks Abbott said she had been “banned” from standing as the party’s candidate in the July 4 election.

Quoting Abbott, a report by Times newspaper said she would be barred from running in her northeast London district in the upcoming elections.

Starmer denies reports

The British MP’s claims were denied later on Wednesday by Starmer. “No that’s not true. No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott,” said the Labour party leader.

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However, it was not immediately clear if she would not be barred since he said no formal decision about her candidacy had been made.

Abbott had taken to X and said that she was “delighted” to be a part of the party again. She added, “I will be campaigning for a Labour victory.”

“But I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate,” said Abbott, who blazed a trail for other Black women politicians.

However, reports suggest that the 70-year-old lawmaker may not be out of the woods just yet as Starmer has sought to purge Labour of some left-wing members and to tackle any allegations of antisemitism.

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The Labour party leader might make the move after the UK’s equalities watchdog accused the opposition party of discrimination against Jews under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.

Corbyn, who led the party from 2015 to 2020, has been barred from running as a Labour candidate.

Recent polls, as per Reuters, have suggested that barring Abbott could lead to anger among Black voters who have traditionally voted for Labour.

(With inputs from agencies)