THE demand for Diane Abbott’s reinstatement in the Parliamentary Labour Party has been backed by more than 35,000 people.

They have signed a petition urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham and new chief whip Anneliese Midgely to restore the whip to Ms Abbott, Britain’s first black woman MP and presently the longest-serving woman in the Commons.

She was purged by Sir Keir Starmer over remarks reflecting her understanding of racism.

Fellow Labour MPs have backed the call. Bell Ribeiro-Addy said: “If Labour truly wants to be a broad church again, restoring the whip to Diane is the first and easiest step.”

Kim Johnson commented: “We need a Labour Party where all views are respected and voices are listened to. Restoring the whip to Diane Abbott would be a clear signal that the party is committed to that culture.”

And Brian Leishman added: “Diane is a trailblazer who has inspired people to get involved in politics and has committed her life to the labour movement. We are all stronger with Diane being in the Labour Party.”

National executive member Yasmin Dar said: “Diane is a lifelong champion of peace and justice and a formidable campaigner in the interests of ordinary people. We need her back where she belongs.”

Rachel Garnham, of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, said: “Diane Abbott is a hero, a trailblazer and an outstanding champion of women’s rights, anti-racism and Labour democracy. 

“It is a stain on our party that she remains without the whip, which should be restored immediately.”

Petition organisers hope that the petition will soon have more than 40,000 signatures, increasing pressure on Mr Burnham to act on his pledge to leave the factionalism of the Starmer years behind.