Diane Abbott to stand for Labour in Hackney North and Stoke Newington, party confirms
Labour have confirmed Diane Abbott is standing as a candidate for the party in Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which is in charge of final approval of election candidates, has given the go-ahead for the veteran MP to stand in the seat she has held for 37 years.
It published the list of approved Labour candidates for the election on Tuesday lunchtime ahead of the deadline for all nominations on Friday afternoon.
A Labour source told Sky News three members of the NEC panel raised the treatment of Ms Abbott when discussing candidates.
The decision comes after a week of confusion over whether she would be allowed to stand following the Labour whip being restored to her after a year-long suspension while she was investigated for writing a letter saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism.
She apologised soon after the letter was published.
Follow live general election updates
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘I spoke to Diane 2 or 3 months ago’
After days of confusion, including on Ms Abbott’s part, Sir Keir said last week it was not up to him to decide if she could stand, as it was up to the NEC panel.
Ms Abbott had said she understood she had been barred from standing.
But eventually, Sir Keir said she would be allowed to stand for Labour.
Ms Abbott, the UK’s first female black MP, had accused Sir Keir of carrying out a “cull of left wingers” after Faiza Shaheen was unexpectedly blocked from standing for Labour last week.
Former Labour leader and close friend of Ms Abbott’s Jeremy Corbyn, who was expelled from the party and is standing as an independent in neighbouring Islington North, told Sky News Sir Keir is “clearly intervening” in a “purge” of left-wing candidates.
On Sunday, Ms Abbott said she “intends to run and win” following speculation she may choose to stand down.
She then wrote on social media: “More lies from Starmer”, with a link to an article by Starmer biographer Tom Baldwin headlined: “Starmer on Abbott: ‘I’ve actually got more respect for Diane than she probably realises’.”
Reacting to that accusation ahead of the final decision by the NEC on Tuesday, Sir Keir said: “Look, we’ve dealt with the Diane Abbott issue. I made the position absolutely clear last week when I said she was free to run for the election.
“She’s one of the candidates that we now put before the electorate.”
Asked if he had spoken to her, he said: “I’ve spoken to Diane two or three months ago. My team have obviously been speaking to her, but that decision is taken.”
? Tap here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts ?
Part of the “cull” Ms Abbott and Mr Corbyn spoke about included the suspension last week of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who has been the MP for Brighton Kemptown since 2017.
On Monday, seven Labour councillors from Slough resigned from the Labour Party after claiming they had been “betrayed” by the party’s leadership.
They said they had “profound disillusionment and anger” over Labour’s treatment of Ms Abbott and Ms Shaheen, it’s position on the war in Gaza, and at Slough’s Labour candidate Tan Dhesi.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway