Labour can’t avoid questions about Diane Abbott forever

The Labour leadership has only itself to blame for becoming embroiled in a bitter and divisive row over the future of Dianne Abbott, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. She was suspended from the party in April last year after writing a letter to the Observer that appeared to play down racism against Jewish people. The party is now facing growing questions about how the disciplinary process around Abbott unfolded.

Abbott apologised for her remarks, but was placed under a months-long investigation and lost the Labour whip. She finally confirmed this morning that she would not be allowed to stand again as a Labour candidate, even though the party whip has now been restored to her following the investigation. The veteran MP, the first black woman to be elected to parliament, says she is ‘very dismayed’ by the developments but added that she will be ‘campaigning for a Labour victory’.