DIANE ABBOTT has been readmitted to the Labour Party following an internal investigation, the veteran MP said.

Ms Abbott was suspended from the party in July last year following criticism of her comments on racism.

The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP said she had been “issued with a formal warning” over a separate tweet in which she referred to the Israel Defence Force as the “Jewish Defence Force.”

Apologising for the tweet, she said she had “used wording that conflates the actions of the state of Israel with the Jewish community” and was “deeply sorry for any hurt caused by that conflation.”

“I have been and remain a lifelong anti-racist and remain deeply committed to opposing racism in all its forms,” she said.

First Secretary of State Louise Haigh told BBC Breakfast: “She’s Labour to her bones, and I welcome the decision by the independent process to readmit her, and I really really welcome her apology.”

Labour MP John McDonnell said he was “really pleased” by the decision, saying he “hope[s] it’s an example of the reassertion of the proper [and] fair administration of the party after years of factional abuse.”

The year-long suspension was the second time Ms Abbott had had her Labour membership suspended, when she was readmitted in time to contest her seat in the 2024 general election.

It is understood that the recent readmission followed formal Labour Party processes and was not linked to Andy Burnham becoming party leader.

Ms Abbott has also had the Labour whip restored after a period of sitting as an independent.

More than 35,000 people signed a statement to urge the new PM to restore the whip to Ms Abbott.

Arise festival organiser Matt Willgress, speaking on behalf of petition organisers, said: “The news about Diane’s return has been welcomed by activists across the country and was long overdue.

“Over 35,000 of us stood together with Diane and the message is clear — campaigning workers and solidarity matters.”

TSSA general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust said: “As Britain’s first black woman MP and Mother of the House, Diane is a true Labour trailblazer, and it is good to see her take her rightful place in the party.”