UK

30,000 tell Keir Starmer – We Stand with Diane Abbott!

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025

By Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas volunteers

A grassroots petition standing with Diane Abbott – after the Keir Starmer-led Party machine suspended her from the Labour Party – has reached the landmark of 30,000 signatures.

Expressing her solidarity with Diane, fellow MP Apsana Begum said: “As the first Black woman MP, Diane stood up against racism, so that decades later I could become the first hijab-wearing MP. Diane has stood with communities of all backgrounds for decades against racism, division and hate. We stand on her mighty shoulders against attacks she continues to face for being in public life.”

Welcoming the rising support the initiative is gathering, BFAWU General Secretary Sarah Woolley said, “Working people know the value of solidarity, and over 30,000 have already stood with Diane Abbott against the disgraceful way she is being treated. As trade unionists, we will not be silent while Britain’s first Black woman MP is disrespected — we stand shoulder to shoulder with Diane, just as she has always stood with us.”

Ellen Morrison, Disabled members’ representative on the Labour Party NEC, said:“It’s important we stand in solidarity with Diane as both a respected figure of the labour movement and a tireless campaigner for all, having been a clear voice against the recent proposed punitive cuts.”

Myriam Kane, Co-Founder of the Black Liberation Alliance also expressed their support for Diane and the campaign, saying: “As the far-right go on the rampage in a febrile racist climate against refugees and migrants, it beggars belief that the Labour leadership has turned on Diane Abbott, a trailblazing anti-racist. We stand with Diane. We demand that she is brought back into the Parliamentary and wider Labour Party.”

Sabby Dhalu, Stand up to Racism Co-Convenor added: “Diane Abbott MP’s record on challenging racism is second to none. Labour needs MPs like Diane. Labour must bring back Diane into the Party. Failure to do so could indicate that it does not take seriously racism experienced by black communities and risk losing black voters.”

MP John McDonnell commented: “Diane has worked tirelessly over decades to serve her constituents and to secure Labour in government. She should be treated with respect and have the Labour whip restored.”

Matt Willgress, on behalf of the Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas volunteers who have organised the petition said: “We are sending a clear message to Keir Starmer and co that across our communities, across our movements, and across the country, we stand with Diane Abbott! Let’s keep speaking up, including by passing motions across our labour and social movement local bodies in solidarity with Diane, and by  hitting 35,000 signatures as soon as possible.”

The petition can be viewed at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/restore-the-whip-to-diane-abbott  A model motion for all local labour and social movement bodies standing with Diane Abbott will be available next week – contact arisefestival@yahoo.com with any queries.

 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diane_Abbot_MP,_Labour_Party_UK.jpg. Author: Sophie Brown, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.