“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.”
Letter to Keir Starmer from six Labour Party affiliated trade unions
By Labour Outlook
The General Secretaries of six Labour Party affiliated trade unions have written to Keir Starmer calling for the Labour Leader to confirm that Diane Abbott will be Labour’s candidate at the general election.
The letter was made public following reports that she would be barred from standing as a Labour candidate, after it was announced that the whip had been restored to Diane Abbott yesterday,
You can read a copy of the letter in full below.
Dear Keir
RE: Diane Abbott MP
We are writing to you as the general secretaries of several of the Labour Party affiliated trade unions, together representing the voices of hundreds of thousands of members.
Since the general election has been called, we are requesting an update regarding Diane Abbott’s position in the party.
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, where she has represented for so long.
We look forward to your swift response.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Whelan, general secretary ASLEF
Maryam Eslamdoust, general secretary TSSA
Sharon Graham, general secretary Unite
Chris Kitchen, general secretary NUM
Dave Ward, general secretary CWU
Matt Wrack, general secretary, FBU
- Over 15,000 activists have signed a petition to Keir Starmer calling on him to restore the whip to Diane Abbott.
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