Diane Abbott re-admitted to Labour after suspension - as party gives veteran MP a formal warning

Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP was expelled from the party after a number of comments about Jewish people.

After Labour’s general election victory in 2024, Abbott defended previous remarks where she said that people of colour experienced racism “all their lives,” but argued that was different from the “prejudice” experienced by Jewish people.

In a subsequently deleted tweet, she also called the Israeli Defence Force “the Jewish Defence Force,” saying they are “gunning down Palestinians as they queue for food.”

Abbott was investigated by the Labour party, with the process today resulting in a formal warning and her readmittance to the party.

The party have also brought back Scottish MP Joani Reid, who resigned the whip after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. She was also investigated by the party and found to had committed no wrongdoing.

In a statement on X, Abbott said “I have been issued with a formal warning for a tweet I previously posted. By inadvertently referring to the Israeli Defence Force as the ‘Jewish Defence Force,’ I used wording that conflates the actions of the state of Israel with the Jewish community.

"I am deeply sorry for any hurt caused by that conflation and apologise for any hurt caused by it.”

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party expects the highest standards from our elected representatives and party members.

“The Party assesses any alleged breaches of such standards independently of the leadership and political interference.

“Following a process conducted under Labour Party rules and approved by the independent review board, Diane Abbott and Joani Reid have been readmitted to the Labour Party and have had the Labour whip restored in the House of Commons.

“Diane Abbott has also apologised following the independent process coming to an end.

“All Labour elected representatives must be mindful at all times of their platform and the responsibilities that come with that privilege.”