Diane Abbott, the trailblazing Member of Parliament for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, has been barred from running as a Labour candidate in the upcoming general election. Abbott, who made history in 1987 as the first Black woman elected to the UK Parliament, faced suspension last year following controversial remarks about racism.
The suspension was triggered by a statement from Abbott in which she asserted that Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people do not face racism “all their lives.” This prompted the Labour Party to launch an investigation into her comments. The investigation concluded in December 2023, resulting in Abbott receiving a formal warning from the National Executive Committee (NEC) for conduct deemed prejudicial to the party.
Although the whip has since been restored, Abbott confirmed she would not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate in her constituency. Hackney North and Stoke Newington, which had a Labour majority of over 33,000 in the last election, is now awaiting the announcement of a new candidate.
Labour leaders had expressed hopes that Abbott would retire from politics following the resolution of her suspension. However, she remains steadfast in her commitment to serving as an MP. “Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing as a Labour candidate,” Abbott stated.
Her suspension and the subsequent ban stem from her controversial comments suggesting that Jewish people do not experience lifelong racism, a statement that drew significant backlash and led to her temporary removal from the party.
As the Labour Party prepares for the upcoming general election, the absence of Abbott from their candidate list marks the end of an era for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, where she has been a prominent figure for decades. The party’s leadership will now focus on selecting a new candidate to maintain their stronghold in the constituency.