Diane Abbott protests Labour’s “cull” of left-wingers

The Diane Abbott row rumbles on. Labour’s first female Black MP, elected in 1987, said her likely exclusion as a party candidate in the forthcoming election was part of a “cull” of left-wingers by the leader, Keir Starmer. Abbott, suspended for 13 months while the party investigated claims she had likened anti-semitism to playground bullying, has had the whip restored but seems unlikely to be confirmed as an official candidate by the National Executive Committee next week. Another left-winger, Faiza Shaheen, has been told she won’t be allowed to stand for Labour. She’s been accused of “liking” a tweet that allegedly downplayed antisemitism. Abbott’s likely defenestration has caused moderate Labour voices to be raised in protest – but Starmer will draw comfort from a YouGov poll that shows 37 per cent of all voters think it right to ban Abbott from standing for Labour. Only 21 per cent think it’s wrong.