Diane Abbott 'free' to stand for Labour says Keir Starmer

Abbott was suspended from the party last year and was under investigation following comments she made about racism against Jewish, Irish and Traveller communities.

While the veteran had the whip restored to her this week, there were conflicting reports that suggested that she may have still been blocked from running as a party candidate in the upcoming election.

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However, Starmer has said that Abbott is “free to go forward as a Labour candidate”.

Speaking to reporters on Friday Starmer said: "The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.

He praised the Labour veteran as a "trailblazer", saying: "Diane Abbott was elected in 1987, the first black woman MP.

"She has carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life."

Abbott has been Labour’s Hackney East and Stoke Newington MP since 1987 and was the UK’s first black female representative.

Activists held a rally in support of Abbott's candidacy in Hackney earlier this week.