Diane Abbott, the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, declared at a rally in Hackney on May 29, 2024, that she would not be intimidated and intends to remain an MP for as long as possible. This comes amid a dispute over whether she has been barred from standing as a candidate in the upcoming general election on July 4.

Abbott, who became Britain’s first black woman MP in 1987, was suspended from the Labour Party in April 2023 after comments she made about Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people not facing racism in the same manner as black people. She later apologized for these remarks, and the whip was restored to her on May 28, 2024, after completing a mandated antisemitism training course.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has stated that no decision has been made yet by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on whether Abbott will be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate. This has led to significant backlash from Labour politicians and supporters who argue that Abbott has been treated unfairly. Six affiliated unions and several MPs have called for her to be confirmed as the Labour candidate.

Amid the controversy, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden have demanded clarity regarding the investigation process into Abbott’s conduct. The issue has dominated headlines during the early stages of Labour’s campaign and has become a focal point for criticism within and outside the party.