“Diane Abbott is a trailblazer. The first black woman MP. The personal abuse she’s received is simply unimaginable. Sort this sorry mess out and restore the whip.”
Ian Lavery MP
By Ben Hayes
A range of MPs, trade unionists, campaigners and commentators have added their voices to the now more than 8,000-strong petition calling for the leadership of the Labour Party to readmit Diane Abbott to the PLP. This follows widespread anger at the campaign of racist abuse targeted towards her (including from major Tory donor Frank Hester), with last week seeing a strong rally of local supporters in Hackney.
Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum, who has also been subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse, and previously discussed Abbott’s significance in her own political journey, added her support to the campaign.
Richard Burgon MP, Secretary of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, slammed the “appalling” comments made by Hester and argued for the party to offer support to “a real Labour hero”, including lifting the suspension of her PLP membership.
MP for Streatham Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who has criticised the role of prominent political and media figures in “normalising” abusive rhetoric, also gave her backing to the petition.
MP for Wansbeck Ian Lavery paid tribute to Abbott’s legacy as a “trailblazer” for black women in Parliament, and called on the party to “sort this sorry mess out and restore the whip”.
Former Shadow Chancellor and current MP for Hayes and Harlington John McDonnell, who called for the whip to be restored at last Saturday’s Stand Up To Racism demonstration, reiterated his support.
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome demanded the whip to be restored to a “Labour stalwart” who has been “an inspiration and a trailblazer to many”.
Beth Winter, MP for Cynon Valley, welcomed the support of Parliamentary colleagues for reinstatement to the PLP and encouraged members to back the petition.
Former General Secretary of Unite the Union Len McCluskey also called for activists to add their signatures, condemning the “appalling spectacle” of Abbott’s treatment by the party leadership.
Other Labour voices offering their support included Rachel Garnham, Co-Chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, who paid tribute to the record of Abbott as “a consistent and principled fighter for equality, peace and justice” and contrasted this with the political orientation of her opponents.
The campaigning organisation Labour Women Leading offered their solidarity and praised her record of supporting women in the party.
The Labour Assembly Against Austerity promoted the petition and encouraged members to do the same in their networks.
Ben Sellers of the People’s Assembly Against Austerity called for Keir Starmer to listen to the growing calls for the restoration of the whip and hoped for the largest possible support for the petition.
Prominent labour movement advisor and author of the ‘Modern Left’ blog Simon Fletcher highlighted the “wholly unjustifiable” situation where Abbott’s suspension from the PLP has now been in effect for close to a year, and called for it to be “put right” with her return.
Former Economic advisor to John McDonnell and Columnist for The i Andrew Fisher added his backing and emphasised the importance of grassroots labour movement support.
Grace Blakeley, Economist and Author of the upcoming book ‘Vulture Capitalism’ also backed the petition, encouraging others to do the same.
As did fellow author and speechwriter Alex Nunns.
And James Schneider, Communications Director for the Progressive International as well as author of ‘Our Bloc: How We Win’, also offered his support.
- You can sign a Restore the Whip to Diane Abbott petition addressed to Keir Starmer here.
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