“There are clearly double standards in how they have been treated as left wingers and as women of colour when compared to more centrist MPs.”
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union General Secretary
In recent days, there have been conflicting reports about the status of Diane Abbott as a parliamentary candidate. Other left wing Labour candidates have also reportedly been barred from running.
Matt Wrack, Fire Brigades Union general secretary, said:
“After 14 years of austerity, misery and chaos, people are sick of the Tories. Now is the time for Labour to unite to sweep them from power.
“Diane Abbott is a powerful, popular advocate for Labour. She and other candidates have been treated in an appalling manner.
“There are clearly double standards in how they have been treated as left wingers and as women of colour when compared to more centrist MPs. It is only a matter of weeks since hard-right Tory Natalie Elphicke was welcomed with open arms.
“This has all been an embarrassing distraction. The Labour leadership must now act decisively to reinstate the affected candidates and ensure that no one is barred from standing at the last minute with no due process.”
- Six Labour-Affiliated Trade Union General Secretary have written to Keir Starmer calling on the Labour Leader to let Diane run as Labour Candidate.
- Labour Peers Baroness Christine Blower and John Hendy KC have written to Keir Starmer delivering a 17,000-strong petition calling for Diane Abbott to be Labour’s candidate.
- Young Labour and Labour Students members have called on the Labour Leader to confirm that Diane Abbott will be the Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
- This article was originally published by the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) on May 30th, 2024.
