Diane Abbott regains Labour whip after investigation

28 May 2024 , 19:59

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Diane Abbott regains Labour whip after investigation

Britain’s first black woman MP was suspended from the party last year over comments she made about Jewish people not facing racism, and rumours had been circling she might not be allowed to stand for Labour at the upcoming election.

Diane Abbott has had the Labour whip restored after an investigation into her conduct, Sky News understands.

The first black woman to be elected to parliament, Ms Abbott was suspended from the party last year after writing a letter in The Guardian suggesting Jewish people do not face racism, and that instead they suffer prejudice similar to "redheads".

She apologised shortly after it was published, but had remained sitting as an independent MP for more than a year while an investigation was carried out.

Sky News now understands that she had the whip returned to her earlier today, paving the way for the veteran MP to run for Labour again in her Hackney North constituency.

Ms Abbott has been a Labour MP since 1987 when she made the history books by becoming the first black woman to sit on the Commons’ benches.

A stalwart on the left of the party, she is a close ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn and served as his shadow home secretary during his tenure.

Her suspension was welcomed last April by MPs from across the House and by groups representing the Jewish community.

But as the length of the investigation into her conduct grew, questions were also raised about whether she would be allowed back into the parties’ ranks.

Emma Davis