Huge row erupts as Keir Starmer suggests Diane Abbott’s Labour suspension has ‘nothing to do with him’
DIANE Abbott has triggered a major row with Sir Keir Starmer over standing as Labour candidate at the election.
The independent MP was suspended from the Parliamentary party a year ago after suggesting Jewish people face prejudice – but not racism – similar to “redheads”.
But the party leader today said the decision on letting her stand will be dealt with within days by the party’s ruling committee.
Sir Keir said: “The final decisions on candidates is coming up in a few days’ time, I think June 4, it may be a little earlier, a little later, I can’t quite remember.
“But within a relatively short period of time the final list of candidates will be decided, and that will be a matter for the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee.”
But his comments were seized up on by Ms Abbott who says Sir Keir is part of the process to allow her to stand again for the party.
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His comments come as her close ally Jeremy Corbyn was kicked out of the party and it emerged he will stand as an independent MP in the election.
She wrote on X: “Just heard Keir Starmer on BBC Radio 4 claiming that the decision about whether to let @HackneyAbbott back into @UKLabour has “nothing to with him”. It has EVERYTHING to do with him.”
After her initial comments for which she apologised, opponents slammed her letter to the Sunday paper.
Labour is still holding an investigation into the matter.
Grant Shapps, who is now Defence Secretary said: “Once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful anti-semitism.”
In the article, Ms Abbott wrote: “Irish, Jewish and Traveller people all suffer from ‘racism’”. They undoubtedly experience prejudice.
“This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.
“It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism.”
Labour’s position has come under increased scrutiny because of Sir Keir’s decision to admit Natalie Elphicke, into the party.
It came despite her support for Brexit and accusations over her role in lobbying ministers over her then-husband Charlie’s sexual assault case.