10,000s back Diane – Labour Lords write to Keir Starmer saying let her stand

“The idea that Diane Abbott should not also be permitted to stand as a Labour Party candidate in the forthcoming general election is unthinkable.”

Letter to Keir Starmer from Baroness Christine Blower & Lord John Hendy KC

By Matt Willgress, Labour Outlook

Two well-respected, decades-long labour movement campaigners who are current Labour members of the House of Lords have written to Keir Starmer to deliver in behalf of its signatories a petition in support of Diane Abbott. It has been signed by over 17,500 people from over 550 parliamentary constituencies.

The petition was initiated by the Labour Assembly Against Austerity and Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas.

Their letter reads as follows:

Dear Sir Keir,

We are writing to draw your attention to the fact that over 17,5000 people have now signed this petition in support of the PLP whip to be restored to Diane Abbott petition.

In light of this level of support, the idea that Diane Abbott should not also be permitted to stand as a Labour Party candidate in the forthcoming general election is unthinkable.

As the General Secretaries of ASLEF, the CWU, FBU, NUM, TSSA and Unite said in their recent letter to you on this matter, “For over thirty years – since becoming the first Black woman ever elected to parliament – Diane has stood in every election as a Labour Party candidate.

“We believe that the whip should be restored to Diane and that she should be confirmed as the candidate at the general election for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, which she has represented for so long.”

Yours,
Baroness Christine Blower,
Lord John Hendy KC

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• Over 17,500 activists have previously signed a petition to Keir Starmer calling on the Labour Leader to restore the whip to Diane Abbott.
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