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".

Abbott, the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, was initially suspended in 2023 over a letter to the Observer newspaper, external 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.

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

In a post on X,, external 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."

She said she had been "issued with a formal warning for a tweet I previously posted", in which she referred to the Israel Defense Forces 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."

The post about the Israel Defense Forces was posted days before her suspension in July 2025.

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.

Earlier, following reports in the Sun newspaper, external about Abbott's possible readmission, Jewish groups expressed concern.

The Board of Deputies said: "This is an early test of resolve for the Burnham administration.

"It is hard to conceive of the whip being restored unless there is clear and sustained evidence of genuine remorse, a proper understanding of why those comments were so hurtful, and an unequivocal recognition that antisemitism is racism.

"While people can learn from their mistakes, Diane Abbott's past record is not encouraging in this regard."

The Jewish Leadership Council said the prime minister "must explain how returning that whip to Diane Abbott is consistent with this zero tolerance approach to antisemitism."

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.