Three Labour names in frame with Diane Abbott’s candidacy in doubt

Diane Abbott, pictured at a rally in Hackney in March, recently liked a post by Jeremy Corbyn’s wife about his decision to stand as an independent. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The Guardian

Labour could select one of three “credible” candidates to run in Diane Abbott’s seat as it seemed intent on not allowing Abbott to stand for the party despite an investigation into her conduct being completed six months ago.

Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP, was suspended from the party in April last year over a letter in the Observer suggesting Jewish people were not subject to racism “all their lives”, meaning she was still an independent when parliament was prorogued for the general election on 4 July.