Sir Keir Starmer is facing criticism over his treatment of Diane Abbott as his team was accused of 'West Wing' politics.
Mrs. Abbott regained the Labor whip on Tuesdaywith Labor sources telling The Telegraph that senior figures in the party were trying to achieve a “soft landing” for the MP where she can “go with grace”.
But it has been reported that she will not be allowed to stand in the next general election, having been suspended from the party last year after suggesting that Jewish people have not experienced racism “all their lives”, comments for which she has subsequently apologized.
Dawn Butler, a senior Labor MP, told Newsnight: “Basically Diane was the first elected black female MP in our country and that is something to be proud of. I think it's important that the whip goes back to Diane, she went through the process…
“Keir said this in his final speech to the parliamentary party: the Labor Party is a team and must act as a team. And I feel like there are people around Keir, not Keir himself, who may have watched a little too much of Scandal or The West Wing and think that this is the way politics is done. Politics doesn't work that way.
'It's important that someone like Diane gets the necessary respect. The other thing is that it's up to Diane to decide what she wants to do next, and I'm sure she will.
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