Diane Abbott says she intends to run and win for Labour
Diane Abbott seen here with our Michael Yiakoumi has said she intends to stand for Labour at the general election, after a row over whether the party would pick her as a candidate.
After days of speculation, the veteran left-winger said she was the “adopted Labour candidate” in Hackney North and Stoke Newington.
A bitter row over whether the party would select her as its candidate in the seat has dominated the first week of campaigning.
Ms Abbott also denied reports she was among a number of Labour MPs who had been offered peerages in return for standing aside.
Writing on X, she said: “I have never been offered a seat in the Lords, and would not accept one if offered”.
“I intend to run and to win as Labour’s candidate,” she added. The party is yet to comment.
Ms Abbott, a shadow cabinet minister under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, has represented the Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat since 1987.
Leader Sir Keir Starmer said on Friday she would be free to stand for the party, after reports that its ruling body would bar her from running.
It followed days of speculation that she would be blocked from being a candidate, despite being readmitted as a Labour MP earlier this week before Parliament was dissolved.
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