Labour’s support for black members under scrutiny

Political and social commentators in the United Kingdom have questioned the main Opposition party’s support of its black members.

The concerns were expressed after the Labour Party’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer, made an about-turn on a decision to bar Britain’s first black female member of parliament (MP), Diane Abbot, from participating in the July 4 general election.

Last week Abbott, who is of Jamaican heritage and has represented the Labour Party as an MP since 1987, revealed the decision made against her, which caused an uproar in British politics.

The politician revealed that her party wanted to “exclude” her and said she had been barred from standing as a candidate for the party in Hackney North and Stoke Newington on election day.

Last week, the Labour Party faced a wave of criticism, which threatened to derail its plans to sweep to power at next month’s general election. The party, which was last in power during 2010, even faced criticism from its own MPs.

Claudia Webbe, the former Labour MP for Leicester East, speaking exclusively to The Gleaner, said: “Labour’s disgraceful and cynical treatment of Diane Abbott encapsulates everything that is wrong with a party that has completely lost the trust of many members, a loss of trust that was written all over the recent by-election result in Rochdale. The rot goes through the whole apparatus and right to the top.

“Labour is not, and has not been since 2020, a party of fairness or proper process as a look at any number of cases will confirm. From the party’s appalling treatment of Apsana Begum and even myself to the wholesale deselection of black councillors and candidates in Enfield and in Leicester and the purge of Muslim councillors in Waltham Forest, black and Muslim representatives have been targeted, particularly women.”

TOKEN EFFORTS

Abbott’s claim followed her recent reinstatement to the party. In April 2023, she was suspended and stripped of her role as Party Whip after writing a letter to The Observer newspaper in England, stating that Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people only experienced “prejudice” similar to “redheads” rather than racism. The politician later apologised for her letter.

Following Abbott’s claim last week and criticism of the Labour Party, its leader made a prompt about turn.

Speaking to reporters in Scotland, Sir Keir Starmer said: “The Whip has obviously been restored to her (Diane Abbott) now, and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.”

The announcement was followed by the party leader’s praise of his MP, during which he described Abbott as a “trailblazer” who had “carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life”.

During the last few days, it was rumoured that Abbot would be offered a peerage and become a Lord.

In a post on social media, however, and after a week of uncertainty, Abbott clarified her stand. She said: “I have never been offered a seat in the Lords and would not accept one if offered.”

She added: “I am the adopted Labour candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington. I intend to run and to win as Labour’s candidate.”

Speaking on British TV Baroness Chakrabarti said last week’s to-and-fro over whether she (Diane Abbott) could stand had, at times,been “sordid”.

She added: “It’s been pretty appalling, trying to bully someone of her stature”, and “it’s not good for Keir Starmer’s leadership. It’s not good for the Labour Party, and it hasn’t been very nice for Diane and for common decency.”

Webbe is unconvinced that the Labour Party’s leader appreciates the achievements of Abbott and other black MPs.

The independent MP for Leicester East said: “Keir Starmer knows he has serious problems, but his token nods to the issues that matter to black and Muslim communities is just superficial and isn’t fooling us.

“And even those token efforts are completely exposed by the lies the party leadership told about Diane, claiming that she was prevented from being selected by a disciplinary process that finished almost six months ago, restoring her to standing as a party member.”

She added: “It’s clear that Labour is not the party for black, Muslim, or any working-class people, and Labour going backwards in this month’s local elections shows that the awareness of this is becoming widespread.”

Speaking to The Gleaner, Lord Simon Woolley, the director of Operation Black Vote, said: “I hope the Labour Party can respond both to Diane Abbott’s needs and nurture the crucial black vote, which will impact how big the Labour Party will win at the general election. There is still a lot to play for.”