Diane Abbott has confirmed she has been barred from standing as a Labour MP at the next election, bringing to an end a nearly 40-year career as one of the party’s most prominent politicians.
The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington released a statement to broadcasters on Wednesday morning confirming that he had been rescinded from his position as Labour’s House leader after a months-long investigation into his conduct, but said he would not be allowed to stand again as a Labour candidate.
The decision means Abbott, the first black woman elected to the British Parliament, will have to decide whether to run as an independent against the party she has represented since 1987, or end her long career as a lawmaker.
“My powers as Leader of the party have been reinstated but I am barred from standing as a Labour candidate,” Mr Abbott said, according to the BBC.
Abbott did not respond to a request for comment.
Her comments capped a tumultuous 24 hours that included reports that she might be barred from standing as a Labour candidate, but her allies said she had not been informed of such a decision. Reports on Wednesday suggested she had wanted to announce her retirement but The Times article She said she would be barred from being a Labour candidate.
Mr Abbott was expelled from the party last year after writing a letter to the Observer newspaper in which he made light of racism against Jews, arguing that Jews, Gypsies, Roma and Travellers – all ethnic minorities – faced the same level of prejudice as redheads.
Prime Minister Abbott apologised for his comments, was investigated and lost his Labour leadership position.
Labour leader Keir Starmer gave some hope to his allies earlier this year when he defended Mr Abbott after the Guardian revealed he had been the target of racist comments from the Conservative party’s biggest donor, Frank Hester.
Mr Starmer praised Ms Abbott as a “trailblazer” at the time, adding: “She has probably faced more sustained abuse than any other politician over many years.”
Ms Abbott’s friends were disappointed when she failed to get her whip back in the weeks that followed.
Mr Starmer said this week that an investigation into his conduct was ongoing, but it emerged on Tuesday that the investigation concluded in December and that Mr Abbott had been instructed to complete an online anti-Semitism training course in February.
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John McTernan, an adviser to former prime minister Tony Blair, described the events of the past 24 hours as “avoidable chaos”.
Jacqueline McKenzie, a lawyer at Leigh Day and a friend of Mr Abbott’s, told the BBC on Wednesday: “What really strikes me is the fact that we’ve seen this week the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, and senior members of the public saying that the investigation is still ongoing. I think they owe it to them to explain. Have they been honest about the process? I think that’s what’s really shocking.”
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is a decision of the Labour party’s national executive committee.”
But he also sought to link Mr Abbott’s case to Mr Starmer’s desire to crack down on anti-Semitism in the party. “When Keir Starmer talks about levelling up in the Labour party, he really means it,” he said.
Asked on Times Radio if he was happy with Mr Abbott’s handling of the case, Ms Streeting replied: “No, not particularly.”
