Diane Abbott 'to be blocked from standing as Labour candidate' on July 4 despite finally having whip restored after anti-Semitism apology - as party faces meltdown with even Keir Starmer's allies branding him 'disgraceful' for 'humiliating' veteran MP
Diane Abbott has had the Labour whip restored but might yet be blocked from standing as a party candidate at the general election, it emerged tonight.
The veteran left-winger, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, was suspended from Labour's parliamentary party for more than a year.
The action was taken against Ms Abbott amid an investigation into her comments about Jewish people in a letter to the Observer newspaper in April last year.
Sir Keir Starmer faced fury from Labour's left-wing after it was earlier revealed the race row probe ended months ago - but still with no clarity on Ms Abbott's future.
It is now understood Ms Abbott was given back the Labour whip today, although it is unclear whether she will stand as a party candidate at the general election.
The Times reported Labour sources were adamant the 70-year-old would not be endorsed as a candidate by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee.
Such a move could bring to an end Ms Abbott's 37-year spell as an MP
There is anger at Sir Keir from even among the party leader's allies at Labour's treatment of Ms Abbott, who was the first female black MP in the House of Commons.
John McTernan, who was Tony Blair's political secretary, said: 'It's not for the Labour Party to ban a woman with Diane Abbott's record from standing for the Labour Party if that's what she wishes to do.'
He added: 'This kind of briefing is aimed at humiliating her and that is disgraceful, utterly disgraceful.
'Whoever is responsible for this should hand their head in shame.'
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who himself was banned for standing for the party at the general election and is now running as an independent candidate, claimed Ms Abbott had been 'disgracefully treated' by Labour bosses.
Ms Abbott recently 'liked' a social media post by Mr Corbyn's wife Laura Alvarez praising his decision to stand against Labour in his Islington North constituency.
Endorsing anyone other than a Labour candidate in an election risks being a breach of party membership rules.
Diane Abbott has had the Labour whip restored but might yet be blocked from standing as a party candidate at the general election
Sir Keir Starmer faced fury from Labour's left-wing after it was earlier revealed the race row probe ended months ago - but still with no clarity on Ms Abbott's future
Mr Corbyn told the PoliticsJoe website: 'Diane has been disgracefully treated by the Labour Party and by, particularly, the individual national officials of the party - all of them.'
He added: 'If she's reinstated, good. If not she's got a choice of her own to make. But whatever she does, I'll support her.'
Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson said: 'Solidarity with Diane, undeniably a trailblazer & a hero of our movement.
'At a time when all our energy should be focussed on throwing the Tories out, this process looks nakedly factional.
'Diane should have the whip restored now so she can stand as Labour's candidate in the GE.'
Senior aides to Sir Keir were earlier said to be discussing returning the Labour whip to Ms Abbott before the election, if she does not run as a party candidate, to allow her to leave politics 'with dignity'.
The possibility of a ban on Ms Abbott standing for Labour at the general election has sparked a fresh war between Sir Keir's team and the party's left-wing.
It also came amid a row over claims Sir Keir is lining up key allies to a string of safe seats after six current Labour MPs announced last-minute retirements.
A spokesman for the Momentum group said: 'Restoring the whip only to block Diane would be outrageous.
'Following a farcical, factional process, she has had the whip restored. Her local party reselected her unanimously. That should be the end of the matter.
'Anything less is a slap in the face to Diane, her constituents and the millions inspired by her example as Britain's first black woman MP.'
Ms Abbott, who has been MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, has been suspended from the party since April last year
Ms Abbott issued a public apology to 'wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and disassociate myself from them' in April last year
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn , who himself was banned for standing for the party at the general election, claimed Ms Abbott had been 'disgracefully treated' by Labour bosses
Ms Abbott issued a swift apology for her remarks in April last year, after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience 'prejudice' but are not 'subject to racism'.
She was forced to sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons while a probe was launched into her remarks.
The BBC reported that Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) wrote to Ms Abbott in December 2023 saying it had concluded its eight-month inquiry.
It issued her with a 'formal warning' for 'engaging in conduct that was in the opinion of the NEC, prejudicial and grossly detrimental to the Labour Party', it was claimed.
The NEC also reportedly said it expected Ms Abbott to undertake an 'online, e-learning module', described as an 'antisemitism awareness course', which she is said to have completed in February.
Sir Keir last week refused to be drawn on whether Ms Abbott would be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
'The NEC will be coming to decisions on the final list of candidates in due course, so you'll see that when the decisions are taken,' the Labour leader said on Saturday.
Labour told BBC Newsnight that it does not comment on disciplinary cases.
Sir Keir told reporters on a general election campaign visit to Stevenage this afternoon: 'Well, the process overall is obviously a little longer than the fact finding exercise.
'But in the end, this is a matter that will have to be resolved by the National Executive Committee, and they will do that in due course.'
The revelation that the probe into Ms Abbott had actually concluded months ago sparked intense anger on Labour's left-wing.
A Momentum spokesman said: 'This is outrageous news which confirms the Starmer leadership is trying to force Britain's first black woman MP out of Parliament.
'For months we have been told by Keir Starmer that the process is independent and it's nothing to do with him.
'Today's revelation confirms this is another brazen lie from Keir Starmer - the investigation was concluded months ago, Diane remains a Labour member and the whip should already have been restored as a result.
'Starmer's conduct has already been insulting and demeaning to a woman he rightly called a 'trailblazer' - the first step to making amends is to restore the whip and let Diane run as the Labour candidate, as local members wish.'
Meanwhile, the Guardian reported that key allies of Sir Keir are expected to be lined up as candidates in a string of safe seats.
There has been a last-minute spate of Labour MPs announcing they will stand down from the Commons ahead of the 4 July general election.
They include Barbara Keeley, John Cryer, John Spellar, Virendra Sharma, Kevin Brennan and Julie Elliott.
Senior Labour figures close to Sir Keir - including NEC members - are tipped to chosen as candidates in the now-vacant seats.
