Local Figures Line Up To Succeed Diane Abbott As Labour Candidate

Keir Starmer has declared that no decision has been made to bar Diane Abbott from being a Labour candidate at the 4 July general election. However, PoliticsHome understands that there are several local figures in the mix to succeed her as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

In April 2023, Abbott had the Labour whip withdrawn after she wrote that Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers do not experience racism "all their lives" in the same way Black people do. She subsequently withdrew her comments and apologised.

It was confirmed yesterday that the whip had been restored to Abbott.

However, the party leadership has been accused of trying to prevent the veteran MP from seeking re-election in her London seat.

On Tuesday, The Times reported that Abbott would not be allowed to stand for Labour at the upcoming election.

“No decision has been taken on barring her. Ultimately it’s a decision for the national executive committee,” Starmer said today during a campaign visit to the West Midlands. “They’ll come to that decision in due course. But they haven’t taken that decision.”

While Abbott is now a Labour MP, the matter of whether she stands as a candidate for Labour at the general election is separate. Labour’s ruling NEC – on which Starmer supporters have a clear majority – always has final say over which candidates are approved for selection.

PoliticsHome understands from sources close both to the leadership and to Abbott that the MP was intending to announce her retirement following the whip restoration. Abbott herself has not commented on whether she wants to be a candidate, though it is understood she would like the choice.

Meanwhile, Labour figures from the local area in Hackney have been tipped to replace her as the