Diane Abbott to decide on running as Labour candidate amidst peerage speculations

Diane Abbott wants to run for Labour in the election. She said she was not offered a seat in the Lords to step down. The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, said she can run for the party. This change happened after his deputy, Angela Rayner, supported Abbott running for the seat she has held since 1987. Abbott confirmed she plans to run and win as Labour's candidate. A friend of Abbott criticized the negative comments made about her by some people. Shami Chakrabarti advised Abbott to take time to decide what she wants to do. Abbott was suspended from the party last year for her comments on prejudice and racism. She was allowed back into the party recently, which means she can stand for Labour. There were rumors that she was offered a peerage to leave, but Abbott denied this. Yvette Cooper, Labour's shadow home secretary, explained that there is a process for nominating people to the Lords, and no party leader can promise a seat. Baroness Chakrabarti suggested that Abbott is still deciding whether to run as a Labour MP. She criticized the negative briefings about Abbott's candidacy. Yvette Cooper supported Abbott's decision and denied claims of offering peerages to left-wing MPs. The situation around Abbott's candidacy has caused confusion within the Labour Party. Abbott confirmed her intention to run for Labour in her constituency. She denied reports of being offered a seat in the House of Lords. Yvette Cooper dismissed claims of peerages being offered to MPs to step down. The Labour Party is going through changes, with some MPs facing suspensions and controversies.