Diane Abbott has been reinstated as a member of the Labour Party following her suspension amid controversy over remarks on racism and anti-Semitism. A Labour Party spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday that Abbott, along with Joani Reid, would be returning to the parliamentary party.

Abbott, 72, was initially suspended in July 2023 after defending comments she had made about the nature of prejudice faced by Jewish people compared to other forms of discrimination. In a BBC interview, she asserted that the prejudice experienced by Jewish communities was not equivalent to colour-based racism. This followed earlier remarks she made in a letter to The Observer, in which she distinguished the experiences of Jewish, Irish, and Traveller communities from what she described as racism directed at people of colour. Her initial comments led to her first suspension from the party, although she later issued an apology.

However, Abbott was suspended again last year after reiterating on Newsnight that her statements were “factually accurate,” which was viewed by party officials as further entrenching her previous position. These developments contributed to a prolonged period of exclusion from the Labour parliamentary group.

Separately, Joani Reid, the daughter of former Labour leader Gerry Reid, had voluntarily suspended her party membership in March following the arrest of her husband on suspicion of spying for China. Her return to the party was announced alongside Abbott’s reinstatement.

The Labour Party spokesperson emphasized that the decisions to readmit both individuals were made independently of the party’s leadership and without political interference. The move marks the resolution of two high-profile suspensions within the party that had attracted considerable media and political attention.