Diane Abbott claimed Labour had ‘banned’ her from representing the party (Picture: PA)
Diane Abbott, Britain’s longest-serving Black MP, has been ‘banned’ from standing as a Labour candidate in the General Election.
Abbott, who has represented her East London seat since the late 1980s, told media outlets this morning she has been barred.
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP had the whip restored last night following an investigation into her April 2023 remarks that Jewish people do not face racism ‘all their lives’.
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She told the BBC today: ‘Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate.’
It’s ultimately up to Labour’s decision-making body, the National Executive Committee, to decide who can represent the party.
They’ve yet to officially confirm the MP can’t stand.
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About one week since the starting gun for the General Election was fired, political leaders are all on the road today.
Rishi Sunak is in the South West while Keir Starmer is driving through the West Midlands.
Ed Davey is sadly not paddleboarding today but is in Wales to campaign alongside his Welsh counterpart.