Diane Abbott readmitted as Labour MP after race row probe
Diane Abbott readmitted as Labour MP after race row probe
But it is not clear whether the ex-shadow home secretary will stand for Labour at the election.
She's on the radio saying she's been barred from standing at the election.
They assumed as much on the radio last night because she has been officially censured by the NEC which usually stops someone from being selected. It seems the idea was to allow here back into the PLP, so she could stand down before the next election but that assumes she would go without making a fuss, which struck me as unlikely.
Starmer's just said this isn't true. Really not clear what's going on, now. Bit of a comms disaster!
If Starmer says it's not true and she says that Labour "haven’t communicated with me personally", then where is she getting the info from?
Like, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Labour were trying to bar her but... is it at all possible that she's read it in the Times and believed it without any official word?
I wouldn't put it past them to simply make that part up to try and sow division in Labour ranks. Which it most certainly has done.
Labour's best move here is to quickly clarify that she's not banned and announce her as the candidate, if she wants it.
Anyone who needs to sit a course on how not to be a racist shouldn't be holding public office.
Her remarks were a bit ignorant but she rightly apologised for them.
Compare that to Natalie Elphicke who tried to pervert the court of justice by influencing the judge to let her husband off with sexual assault. Result? Welcome to the Labour party Ms Elphicke!
Her remarks were straightforwardly true. A Jew, an Irish person, a Traveller and a Black person walk into a bar. Who gets racially profiled before they've even ordered a drink?
Yes Jews and Irish people and Travellers will likely experience racism at times throughout their lives. Only Black (or brown) people will experience racism just existing in a white society, just walking down the street, regardless of their clothing or their speech or their cultural practices.
It's like, women experience sexism always. Gay men only experience homophobia in contexts where their sexuality is known. Visible minority status is a thing.
She's not great during election campaigns at the best of times even without the racism cloud hanging over her. By all accounts she is an articulate and intelligent person in private but she has a bit of a habit of engaging with the media while unprepared for interviews. Things like the gaffe where she misquoted the price of training a police officer tend to stick in people's minds; feeds an unhelpful narrative about Labour being bad with money, etc.
She obviously isn't a racist. She was targeted in the anti-Corbyn purge carried out by
StalinStarmer.Half the tories have some history of Islam phobic comments. Or outright racism of some other form. Sexism or lots of other crap.
Without being sent for any correction at all.
Yet someone who appolagised and attended a course is your concern.
Especially when you consider the huge amount of daily racism she faces day in and day out on social media.
Sorry no I have way more sympathy for her getting a little out of wak about the subject and how it effects different people. Then I do any toffy nosed middle aged white guy who has never faced such thing at all.
PS that is coming from a middle aged white guy. Just to clarify. But you will have to make your own mind up on the toffee.
It's probably time the Labour party moves on from the divisive and constant faux pas of Abbott. Recognise her contribution to the Labour movement but don't give her a free pass to cause shit and discontent within the new government.
And, look, if she feels so strongly then start a party with JC. I'm sure she'll have lots of backing. Or tear the Labour party up from the inside? 😅