The Labor Party has denied claims it is offering peerages to former Labor MPs so they can stand down to make way for Sir Keir Starmer’s chosen candidates.
Several left-wing Labor candidates, who were MPs until the election was called, told The Times that they had been told they would be elevated to the House of Lords if they gave up their seats.
But Yvette Cooper, Labour’s home secretary, told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “No party can do that, that’s not how the system works.”
She added that there is a “thorough process” for an independent committee to scrutinize nominations to the Lords, so it is not possible for Sir Keir, or any party leader, to promise anyone a seat there.
The allegation emerged after Sir Keir was accused of trying to get rid of candidates to the left of the party.
Veteran deputy Diane Abbott accused him of “singling out” Labor leftists after two potential candidates, Faiza Shaheen and Lloyd Russell-Moyle, were barred from running.
Former leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News Sir Keir is “clearly intervening” in a “purge” of left-wing candidates.
But Sir Keir denied this, saying he wants “candidates of the highest quality”.
Whether or not Abbott, the first black female MP, would be allowed to run for the Labor Party took over the headlines in the first week of the election campaign.
Asked by Trevor Phillips if she expects Abbott to be the Labor candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Cooper said: “I assume so.
“I’m so glad it’s been resolved for Diane. She continues to be a very important figure in the Labor Party.”
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Abbott was given the Labor whip back earlier this week after a year of being investigated for writing a letter suggesting Jews, Irish and Travelers do not face racism.
Confusion reigned when she claimed she had been barred from standing for the Labor Party in Hackney North and Stoke Newington, a position she has held for 37 years.
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Sir Keir said no decision has been made yet and it is not up to him but the party’s national executive committee.
Then, on Friday, he said: “She is free to move forward as a Labor candidate.”
Abbott said she would not comment until she was officially endorsed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) next week.
But she told Sky News that “the narrative seems positive”.
Labor sources said she will be the Labor candidate in her east London constituency and is expected to ratify the decision when it meets on Tuesday.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
