Angela Rayner said she saw «no reason» why Ms Abbott should not stand as the Labor candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington By JOE GIDDENS/PA
A growing number of Labor MPs and leading figures in the Labor movement are voicing their support for Diane Abbott ahead of the party's June 4 candidate selection deadline.
They include Angela Rayner, who caused a split in the party's election . The party's top officials have said Ms Abbott should be allowed to stand again as a Labor MP, putting her at odds with Sir Keir Starmer.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, and Jess Phillips, a former leadership candidate, also raised concerns about the treatment of Britain's first black female MP.
Ms Rayner directly challenged Sir Keir Starmer's authority, saying she «sees no reason» why Ms Abbott should not stand as the candidate. Labor in Hackney North and Stoke Newington on July 4.
She told ITV she was «not happy» with anonymous media briefings that said Ms Abbott had been banned from standing as a Labor candidate parties.
Ms Rayner is directly elected by Labor Party members, meaning Sir Keir has no power to sack her.
Ms Cooper expressed support for Ms Abbott, saying it was great to have the whip back.
Speaking to the media during a visit to Maltby. , South Yorkshire, she said: “Not only was she a trailblazer, but she has done some extremely important work over the years. That's why I think everyone wants this problem resolved as quickly as possible.»
Asked whether she would support Ms Abbott as a Labor Party candidate or as an independent, Ms Cooper replied: “Well, I hope that this process will be resolved as quickly as possible. As you know, as a member of the shadow cabinet, I am obviously not involved in any of the processes.
«Diane is now back as a member of the parliamentary Labor Party, which is really welcome.
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«Diane is a truly important figure in the Labor Party and the Labor movement.»
The Labor mayor told the Evening Standard that Ms Abbott should be treated with the respect she deserves.
He hailed her as a trailblazer and recalled how her election as an MP in 1987 «had a huge impact on me in the positive sense of the word.»
He said: «She was a mentor to many of us, but she also spoke on issues that are not very popular, issues of racial justice and social justice, highlighting some of the discrimination when it comes to stop and search when necessary. when it comes to the NHS, it's about excluding black boys from school.
“She did a huge amount for Hackney, for London, for our country. So I think it's very important that she is given the respect that she deserves.»
Mr Streeting told Times Radio he was unhappy with how Ms Abbott had been treated by the Labor Party.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, after Ms Abbott said she had been told she had been banned, he said: «At this stage, in terms of decisions about her candidacy, I know everything that has been communicated.»
'Do you feel comfortable about what happened here with Diane Abbott?'
'No, not particularly. '@WesStreeting reacts to the decision to return Abbott's whip to Diana but will not allow her to stand as a Labor candidate in the general election.@KateEMcCann | @LukeJones pic.twitter.com/XdVnY7AUzX
— Times Radio (@TimesRadio) May 29, 2024
A Labor MP said the dispute over Ms Abbott's candidacy was «a fight that should not be fought at this stage» and that Ms Abbott should decide for herself whether to stand for the party's nomination.
Ms Phillips told Sky's Electoral Dysfunction Podcast: «Personally and politically I think they should probably just let Diana run in Hackney… that's for her to decide.
“However, what I will say is that it is only because you” If you have a Labor Party whip, it does not mean that the Labor Party thinks you are a good MP.
“I just think that this the fight is not worth fighting at this stage, and has nothing to do with the merits of the particular case, since everything remains true: Diane Abbott was the first black woman ever elected, she served this constituency.»
The MP, whose constituency is next door to Ms Abbott's, said it would be sad if she were banned from standing.
She told Times Radio the length of the independent process into her investigation was «disappointing» many of us.» Ms Abbott has been under investigation since last year over a letter she wrote to The Observer about racism.
Speaking about the process, Ms Hillier said: «Obviously we have no influence on this and on one level that is absolutely right, but I and others have expressed concern that it has taken a long time, yes, for Diana, but for others in the system as well.
“I am pleased that she was recognized as a Labor MP today and that she was not banned from standing. I think it would be very sad if that were the case.”
A Welsh Labor MP condemned the party's treatment of Ms Abbott on social media.
I'm glad Diane Abbott has finally reinstated the Labor whip.
The way she is being treated is vindictive, factional and cruel.
She should be allowed to decide whether she will run again as a candidate.
— Beth Winter (@ BethWinterCynon) May 29, 2024 
Mick Whitley wrote on social media that he was in «complete agreement»; with Diana Abbott ?direct=true&id=f50b4949-ae75-4006-8c74-0b3e635046af&template=articleRendererHTML» class=»tmg-particle embed wrp-f50b4949-ae75-4006-8c74-0b3e635046af» title=»Mick Whitley» data-business-type =»editorial» «loading=»eager» scroll=»no» frameborder=»0″ allow=»web-share» style=»width: 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: relative; padding: 0px; margins: 0px;»>
On Wednesday afternoon, the MP wrote on social media that he was in “full solidarity” with Ms Abbott.
I completely agree with @HackneyAbbott. The party's treatment of her is an insult to a political pioneer, the first black female MP and a loyal servant of both the Labor Party and the people of Hackney.
She should be allowed to stand in Hackney North if she wants to.
— Mick Whitley (@MickWhitleyMP) May 29, 2024
The Labor MP said: “Solidarity with Diana, undoubtedly a pioneer and hero of our movement. At a time when all our energies should be focused on ousting the Tories, this process looks downright factional.
“Diana should have the whip reinstated now so she can stand as a Labor candidate in the general election.”
The general secretary of Aslef, the train drivers' union, wrote to Sir Keir on 25 May asking him to endorse Ms Abbott as the Labour Party's candidate for her constituency in the election.
The letter was signed jointly. the general secretaries of Unite, the National Union of Mineworkers, the Telecom Workers' Union, the Fire Brigades Union and the Transport Salaried Employees' Association.
NEC members
The three members of the Labor Party's National Executive Committee, which will have the final say on candidates next week, made it clear understand that they will support Ms. Abbott.
Gemma Bolton told Radio 4's World in One that she hoped there would be a «clear consensus that Diana should be a candidate» by the time the NEC meets on Tuesday.
Mish Rahman, another member of the NEC, told Times Radio: «The way Keir Starmer has treated Britain's first black female MP is appalling, it's vindictive, it's cruel, it's humiliating and it's just a slap in the face.»
He added that : «Keir Starmer and his bully boys have a list of brave women of color that they're going through right now, trying to stop standing because they stand up to these bullies.»
Jessica Barnard, a youth worker who is part of the NEC, said that if Sir Keir did not ban Ms Abbott from standing: «He should come out with a statement allowing her to stand, apologize and end this disgraceful bullying of Diane Abbott «.
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