MP Diane Abbott readmitted into Labour Party after suspension

The long-serving MP Diane Abbott has been let back into the Labour Party, following a year-long suspension.

In a statement, a Labour spokesperson said Abbott had "apologised" following an independent process and that she would be readmitted into the parliamentary party, meaning she can sit as a Labour MP once again.

Abbott, who was suspended in 2025 following an antisemitism row, said she had been "issued with a formal warning".

East Kilbride and Strathaven MP Joani Reid has also been readmitted to the party. In March, she said she had "voluntarily" suspended herself after her husband was arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

Her husband David Taylor, was arrested along with two other men. All three have been released on police bail, which in May was extended until August.

Responding to her readmittance on Thursday evening, Reid she was "excited to play a full part in supporting our new prime minister".

She added: "I have never been part of a police investigation, as a suspect or as a witness, and I am pleased that this has now been recognised."

A Labour spokesperson said the decisions about party membership had been taken "independently of the leadership and political interference".

The decision to give Abbott the parliamentary whip back was taken by Andy Burnham's new Chief Whip, Anneliese Midgley.

Abbott, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, was initially suspended in 2023 over a letter to the Observer newspaper in which she said Irish, Jewish and Traveller people "undoubtedly experience prejudice" but "they are not all their lives subject to racism".

She was readmitted to Labour shortly before the 2024 general election however, in a BBC interview just over a year ago she said she did not regret the incident and defended her original remarks.

Speaking to Radio 4's Reflections, she said: "I just think that it's silly to try and claim that racism which is about skin colour is the same as other types of racism."

In a separate incident in July 2025 she also published a social media post in which she referred to the Israel Defense Forces as the "Jewish Defence Force".

These instances led to her second suspension in July 2025 and since then she has been sitting as an independent MP.

On Thursday evening, Abbott wrote: "Today, following a process conducted in line with party rules and approved by the independent review process I have been readmitted to the Labour party."

"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."

She added: "I have been and remain a lifelong anti-racist and remain deeply committed to opposing racism in all of its forms."

Some Labour MPs had been calling for Abbott to be readmitted to Labour and more than 38,000 people had signed a petition backing her return.

Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy told BBC Newsnight that Abbott had "given over 40 years of her life to the Labour movement and she is pleased to be back in the party that is her home".

She said she understood some Labour MPs might have concerns but that Abbott had been "very clear and sincere in her apology".

However, Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the same programme he was "very sad, very concerned".

"In many ways Diane Abbott is an icon, the first black female MP... so you'd hope we would find common cause in fighting racism in all its different guises.

"But over and over again she is making these statements that are offensive to the Jewish community at a time when there is heightened antisemitism, deadly antisemitism."

The Jewish Labour Movement said it was right that the case had been through the party's process but added: "Should Diane Abbott's conduct as a Labour MP fall below what is expected for a third time, we will expect our party to take firm and decisive action."

Following the party's decision to accept Abbott and Reid back into the parliamentary party, two MPs remain suspended from Labour.

Karl Turner was suspended in March for making "uncollegiate" comments about colleagues, BBC News understands.

However, Turner said it was "clear" his suspension was due to his criticism of the government's policy on jury trials.

Dan Norris, the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, was suspended after being arrested on suspicion of sexual offences.

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