Following controversy on whether the party would select her as a candidate, Diane Abbott declared her intention to run for Labour in the general election.
Following several days of conjecture, the seasoned left-winger declared herself to be the “adopted Labour candidate” for Stoke Newington and Hackney North.
The first week of the campaign has been dominated by a fierce dispute over whether the party would choose her to be its candidate for the seat.
Ms. Abbott refuted rumors that she was one of several Labour MPs who received peerages in exchange for resigning from office.
The statement “I have never been offered a seat in the Lords, and would not accept one if offered” was written by her on X.
“I intend to run and to win as Labour’s candidate,” she added. The party is yet to comment.
It follows her close ally Baroness Chakrabarti’s advice to “take some time” to think about whether or not to run for Labour in the general election.
The Labour peer lamented at briefings that the party had treated her “dear friend” in a “appalling” way and that she would not be allowed to run.
Ms. Abbott has served as a shadow cabinet minister for former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. She was first elected in 1987 and has represented Stoke Newington and Hackney North.
When questioned about a Sunday Times story claiming that Ms. Abbott was one of the Labour MPs who the party had offered peerages to, Ms. Cooper said, “I don’t know anything about that.”
‘Overgrown schoolboys’
Following rumors that the party’s ruling committee might prevent her from running, leader Sir Keir Starmer declared on Friday that she will be allowed to run.
It came after days of rumors that, even though she had been readmitted as a Labour MP earlier this week before to the dissolution of Parliament, she would not be allowed to run for office.
The action was taken following a 13-month investigation into Ms. Abbott after her letter to a newspaper stating that persons who are Jewish, Irish, or Travelers do not experience racism “all their lives” was published.
Shortly after her words were published, Ms. Abbott apologized and changed them.
Baroness Chakrabarti stated in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday that the back and forth this week on her ability to stand has occasionally been “sordid”.
“It’s not good for Keir Starmer’s leadership, it’s not good for the Labour Party,” she said.
She denounced the newspaper claims that she would be prevented as “anonymous briefings by overgrown schoolboys in suits,” but she noted that she had been “personally assured by the leadership” that they had not been approved by the party.
I’m hoping she’ll think about what she wants to do for a while. As her friend, I have literally advised her to do that, and I sincerely hope she will.
Ms. Abbott stated earlier this week that she wished to continue serving as Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP “as long as it is possible”.
She had already claimed that the party leadership intended to “exclude” her from Parliament before Sir Keir gave his confirmation that she may run.
After nominations close on Friday, the News website will have a complete list of candidates in Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
