Diane Abbott has confirmed she plans to run as a Labour candidate in the general election after her future as an MP was cast into doubt this week.
Taking to X to dismiss claims she had been offered a peerage if she retired, Abbott said: ‘I am the adopted Labour candidate for Hackney North & Stoke Newington.
‘I intend to run and to win as Labour’s candidate.’
On Wednesday, she had told a crowd of supporters that she will run in the July 4 General Election ‘by any means possible’.
It came after reports that Labour had barred her from running, despite being readmitted to the parliamentary party.
Abbott had the whip suspended 13 months ago over a letter to The Observer claiming Jewish people and Travellers ‘are not all their lives subject to racism’ like Black people.
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Despite the controversy, a new poll shows Sir Keir Starmer’s party on 45% – up four points since last weekend – with the Tories down two percentage points on 25%.
Over this weekend, both he and Rishi Sunak unveiled their parties’ battle buses, which will travel across the country.
The Labour leader launched his red campaign coach, emblazoned with the party’s key slogan ‘Change’, in west London with a pledge to get people back to work.
Labour and the Tories have unveiled further policy pledges as the campaign trail continues across the country.
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to cut net migration to the UK if Labour wins the General Election, while the Tories say they will create 100 more GP surgeries.
