Keir Starmer speaks at the launch of Labour’s six steps for change in Wales during the May 2024 general election campaign (Credit: PA Images / Alamy)
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The Labor leadership is disappointed at the way the row over MP Diane Abbott’s candidacy has become an “unwelcome distraction”, PoliticsHome understands.
After withdrawing the Labor whip last year over claims that Irish, Jewish people and Travelers do not experience racism ‘all their lives’, in comments for which she apologized, Abbott had the whip restored earlier this week.
But it was indicated by The times the same day that Abbott was barred from re-election. On Thursday, Labor leader Keir Starmer denied the decision was made to prevent Abbott from standing as a Labor candidate, and deputy leader Angela Rayner went further. “I don’t see any reason why she can’t stand,” she said Thursday.
Starmer declared on Friday that Diane Abbott was “free to stand as a Labor candidate”.
The left-wing activist group Momentum responded by claiming a “huge victory.” A spokesperson said: “If you come to see the Queen, you better not miss. Diane Abbott has been bullied and abused throughout her career. Starmer tried to force her out. She stood her ground – and won.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Angela Rayner is pushing Keir Starmer around. Under pressure he is showing himself to be a weak leader who is losing control of the Labor Party.”
Labor sources say a plan had been agreed which would see the leadership reinstate the whip and Abbott then announce her retirement – but the briefing to The times disrupted the arrangement.
A source close to the leadership said the row over Abbott was the result of a “tragic miscommunication” and “macho” briefing, and has become an “unwelcome distraction” during the election campaign.
“No one wants this – a lot of internal focus – we want to continue with speeches in factories about labor rights,” she added.
Adding to the confusion, shadow cabinet member Peter Kyle hinted on Friday morning that Abbott would indeed be excluded. “Diane Abbott was a pioneer… However, this election is about the future and the NEC will ensure that our party is fit for the future,” he told the BBC.
The row over Abbott was further fueled by Wednesday’s deselection of Faiza Shaheen, a left-wing candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green. She said she would discuss “next steps” with her legal team.
Leadership favored Shama Tatler, a Brent councilor who had expressed an interest in the Queen’s Park and Maida Vale constituency, was quickly chosen by Labor’s national executive committee to contest the seat on Thursday.
Shaheen responded to the news by tweeting, “Really?! Wow, a Brent councilor with no history here. They would rather lose than have a left-wing pro-Palestinian candidate. This is insulting to my community.”
There was also unrest over the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, the incumbent candidate for Brighton Kemptown, following a complaint investigated by the party last weekend. He is no longer eligible to stand as a Labor candidate as there is not enough time to complete the full vetting process before the nomination deadline next week.
The move against Russell-Moyle, who sits on the left of the party, was widely believed to have been a faction-motivated attack. However, the complaint against him is believed to have come from the left, specifically from someone who was expelled from the Labor Party for anti-Semitism.
Russell-Moyle has described the complaint, which concerns his behavior eight years ago, as “vexatious and politically motivated”.
A Labor Party spokesperson said: “The Labor Party takes all complaints very seriously and they are fully investigated in accordance with our rules and procedures, and appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
Chris Ward, a close friend of Starmer who worked as his assistant for six years, has been chosen as the Labor candidate for Brighton Kemptown.
Other Labor selections announced on Thursday include trade unionists – Unison’s Mark Ferguson and Usdaw’s Michael Wheeler, who are also members of the NEC, plus Kate Dearden of the community union – and NEC member Gurinder Singh Josan.
Former Starmer staffer Uma Kumaran was also put forward as a candidate. All were chosen directly by NEC panels through emergency selection procedures.
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