[Samanfur]

Diane Abbott refused to go on antisemitism course to rejoin Labour

Diane Abbott was offered the Labour whip back but refused because she would have had to undergo antisemitism training, The Independent has been told.

An investigation into the long-serving black MP has been ongoing since her suspension last April following an article she wrote about Jewish people, with pressure mounting on the party over why it has been taking so long.

But sources from the left and right of the Labour Party have told The Independent that the investigation is dragging on in part because of Ms Abbott’s own refusal to compromise.

[Abernathy]

I’ll own to not being as au fait with the disciplinary measures available to Labour’s top brass as I might be, but I’d long since assumed that the whip was going to remain withdrawn for long enough to leave her with the choice of retirement at the next election or running for her seat as an independent, and thus automatic expulsion.

I think Starmer can just about credibly claim that the independent disciplinary process is proceeding rather too slowly, though the narrative that says Abbott is somehow being manoeuvred into essentially the same position as her former lover (JC) of not being permitted to stand again as a Labour candidate at the election is also somewhat credible. Which I think is a desirable objective, by the way - priceless porcelain vase again. In spite of her much-lauded status as the first and longest-serving black female MP, her political stance is largely incompatible with the 21st century iLabour Party that is, we still hope about to be elected to government at long last.

To be frank, I rather thought at the age of 70, she would be following the umpteen Tory MPs and colleagues like Harriet Harman in announcing that she intends to retire at the election.

I see that a large number of people have gathered at Diane’s constituency office in a “we stand with Diane” demo tonight. Corbyn is there on Abbott’s shoulder. The Trots do love a good protest.

[Youngian]

It’s regrettable Starmer’s swiftly ruthless toward MPs who step out of line but the stakes are too high to piss about. If Diane was a Tory backbencher and said what she said then it would be tomorrow’s forgotten fish and chip paper. But she’s not, the slightest chink in the party’s armour leads to the week’s news agenda dominated by Labour’s failings.

[Crabcakes]

Diane Abbott refused to go on antisemitism course to rejoin Labour

Diane Abbott was offered the Labour whip back but refused because she would have had to undergo antisemitism training, The Independent has been told.

An investigation into the long-serving black MP has been ongoing since her suspension last April following an article she wrote about Jewish people, with pressure mounting on the party over why it has been taking so long.

But sources from the left and right of the Labour Party have told The Independent that the investigation is dragging on in part because of Ms Abbott’s own refusal to compromise.

Again, the own worst enemy thing. And of course, as a loyal Corbynite it is absolutely impossible that she did anything wrong. Despite very obviously doing a wrong thing that she already apologised for (albeit with as much grace as a one-legged horse navigating an ice rink)

[davidjay]

It takes a lot to make Corbyn seem like a statesman but time and again she manages it.

[Abernathy]

I note that a few leftie Labour members, such as Shami Chakrabarti on the Daily Politics just now, are using the welcoming of Natalie Elphicke into the fold to call for the whip to be restored to Diane Abbott, though they have stopped short of calling for the same "justice" to be extended to Abbott's friend Jeremy Corbyn.

They have a point. Abbott's suspension has lasted an inordinately long time , and Kate Osamor MP, suspended for a shorter time than Abbott, had the whip restored yesterday, I understand.

But the two cases (Elphicke and Abbott) are quite different, I think, and not really comparable. I do sense that the intention is to keep Abbott suspended until the NEC can formally take the same decision it did in respect of Corbyn - that she should not be permitted to stand at the election as an official Labour Party candidate, though I think perhaps that Abbott as an official Labour candidate would be slightly less of a liability than Corbyn.

[Oboogie]

I note that a few leftie Labour members, such as Shami Chakrabarti on the Daily Politics just now, are using the welcoming of Natalie Elphicke into the fold to call for the whip to be restored to Diane Abbott, though they have stopped short of calling for the same "justice" to be extended to Abbott's friend Jeremy Corbyn.

They have a point. Abbott's suspension has lasted an inordinately long time , and Kate Osamor MP, suspended for a shorter time than Abbott, had the whip restored yesterday, I understand.

But the two cases (Elphicke and Abbott) are quite different, I think, and not really comparable. I do sense that the intention is to keep Abbott suspended until the NEC can formally take the same decision it did in respect of Corbyn - that she should not be permitted to stand at the election as an official Labour Party candidate, though I think perhaps that Abbott as an official Labour candidate would be slightly less of a liability than Corbyn.

Has Dianne Abbott agreed to undergo antisemitism training yet? My understanding is that her refusal is the reason she can't have the whip restored.

[Abernathy]

I don't know. Not been well publicised.

[davidjay]

It does look a bit churlish to keep her suspended while welcoming Elphicke.

[Oboogie]

It does look a bit churlish to keep her suspended while welcoming Elphicke.

Which Party rule(s) has Elphicke broken since she became a member?

[davidjay]

It does look a bit churlish to keep her suspended while welcoming Elphicke.

Which Party rule(s) has Elphicke broken since she became a member?

Give her a chance.

[Oboogie]

It does look a bit churlish to keep her suspended while welcoming Elphicke.

Which Party rule(s) has Elphicke broken since she became a member?

Give her a chance.

She'll need to get a shift on, it doesn't look like she's got long.