“The treatment of Diane has been appalling. The way in which her case has been dealt with in comparison with others leaves Labour open to charges of discrimination & abusive behaviour towards the first black woman MP.”
John McDonnell MP
By Matt Willgress, Labour Outlook
The organisers of a grassroots petition calling on Keir Starmer to restore the Parliamentary Labour Party whip to Diane Abbott which has over 11,000 supporters have used the occasion of one year on from Diane’s suspension from the PLP to again ask for the whip to be restored.
Marking the anniversary, Apsana Begum MP said, “One year is too long – the whip should absolutely be restored to Diane.
Diane has stood with communities of all backgrounds for decades against racism, division and hate. As racism continues to persist, we stand on her mighty shoulders in fighting for fairness and equality.”
John McDonnell MP added, “The treatment of Diane Abbott has been appalling. The way in which her case has been dealt with in comparison with others leaves the Labour Party open to charges of discrimination and abusive behaviour towards the first black woman MP. I am calling yet again for the whip to be restored to Diane.”
TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said, “We must offer Diane all the solidarity we can and keep up the pressure. Enough is enough – it’s time to restore the whip!”
She added, “The petition and model motion standing with Diane deserve widespread support throughout our movement.”
The co-convenor of Stand up to Racism, Sabby Dhalu said, “Fighting racism must be central to Labour’s agenda. As we approach a general election it’s crucial for Labour to mobilise every single vote that includes mobilising African, Caribbean, Asian and anti-racist voters.”
She added, “Diane Abbott MP’s record on fighting racism is second to none and restoring the whip to her will help mobilise the Labour vote. It’s time for the Labour Party to readmit Diane Abbott into the Labour Party.”
Giving a local perspective, Hackney North CLP member, John Stewart, said: “Every single Branch Labour Party and affiliate that participated in our reselection process voted to reselect Diane. None voted against her because she is a popular, hardworking representative. Keir Starmer should restore the Whip now so Diane can continue to represent us.”
The petition was initiated by the Labour Assembly Against Austerity and Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas. Commenting on behalf of the two organisations, a spokesperson said “Each day we see illustrations of the growing support there is for Diane to have the whip restored. Now we need to up the campaign, including by reaching 15,000 supporters, and getting as many Labour Party and trade union bodies to follow the lead of the UCU and NEU in showing their solidarity with Diane.”
The petition has also been supported by numerous prominent figures on social media including Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Beth Winter MP, Richard Leonard MSP, Richard Burgon MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Ian Lavery MP, ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan, BFAWU General Secretary Sarah Woolley, Grace Blakeley, Andrew Fisher, Alex Nunns, Simon Fletcher, James Schneider and Ben Sellers, plus the Labour Women Leading group.
- Following the UCU and NEU trade unions nationally expressing solidarity with Diane Abbott, a new model motion for labour movement – including trade union and Labour Party – can be found here.
- You can add your name to the petition can be viewed at here.
- The whip being restored to Diane Abbott received support last month from a range of forces across and beyond the Labour Party including Ed Balls and Harriet Harman. You can read a more detailed summary here.
I can’t imagine why anyone would want to be a supporter of the Labour Party. I told them to go fuck themselves and they chased me for my lapsed subscription. I told them to go fuck themselves again.
I Stand with Diane. Rally Sunday 28th April 3pm Hackney Downs E5 8NP