UK Labour Party readmits Diane Abbott and Joani Reid as MPs

Published Jul 31, 07:53 AM UTC

Diane Abbott, the former shadow home secretary and longest-serving Black MP in the UK, has been readmitted to the Labour Party after a year-long suspension. Abbott was suspended twice: first in 2023 for comments suggesting Jewish, Irish, and Traveller communities face prejudice rather than racism, and again after telling the BBC that racism based on skin color differs from other forms. She completed an antisemitism awareness course, apologized, and received a formal warning. Separately, MP Joani Reid was also readmitted after voluntarily stepping down in March when her husband was arrested by counter-terrorism police. Reid stated she was never a suspect and is now eager to rejoin the government. A Labour spokesperson confirmed the readmissions followed an independent process, while new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has vowed to end factionalism, though the leadership reportedly had no direct role in the decision.