Diane Abbott has Labour whip restored after investigation

Diane Abbott has had the Labour whip restored after an investigation into her conduct, Sky News understands.

The first black woman to be elected to parliament, Ms Abbott was suspended from the party last year after writing a letter in The Guardian suggesting Jewish people do not face racism, and that instead they suffer prejudice similar to "redheads".

She apologised shortly after it was published, but had remained sitting as an independent MP for more than a year while the party's national executive committee carried out its investigation.

Sky News now understands that she had the whip returned to her earlier today, paving the way for the veteran MP to run for Labour again in her Hackney North constituency.

Follow live: General election latest

Ms Abbott has been a Labour MP since 1987 when she made the history books by becoming the first black woman to sit on the Commons' benches.

A stalwart on the left of the party, she is a close ally of former leader Jeremy Corbyn and served as his shadow home secretary during his tenure.

Her initial suspension was welcomed last April by a range of MPs from across the House and by groups representing the Jewish community.

But as the length of the investigation into her conduct grew, questions were also raised about the motivations whether she would be allowed back into the parties' ranks.

Speculation grew further after a report in the Guardian exposed remarks that had been made about her by one of the Conservative's largest donors Frank Hester, saying Ms Abbott made him "want to hate all black women" and that she "should be shot".

Many from the Labour movement called for her to have the whip reinstated at this time, but while party leader Sir Keir Starmer was seen offering her support in the chamber, he repeatedly said the investigation needed to be concluded.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Come Tuesday, reports were swirling that Ms Abbott might be ejected from the party entirely, along with claims the investigation had been wrapped up months ago.

And there were suggestions she could even join her friend and ally Mr Corbyn on the outside and running as an independent.

But shortly before 7pm, Sky News discovered she had been reinstated.