Sir Keir Starmer has said Diane Abbott is “free” to stand as a Labour candidate in the General Election, following growing concerns over a purge of the left.
Labour is now facing anger from prominent Black personalities who have signed an open letter condemning the party’s “disgraceful” treatment of the Hackney North MP and warned of a losing loyal supporters.
The controversy continues as Labour replaced pro-Palestinian Muslim candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green Faiza Shaheen with a member of the Jewish Labour Movement Shama Tatler.
This came after much criticism by Muslim groups and the left of the party of Starmer’s position on Israel.
Adding further fuel to the fire, Sir Keir leader admitted he would work with Donald Trump if he gets into the White House despite facing an “unprecedented” situation.
He added that he “respects the decision of the court” that found Trump Donald Trump has been guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corrupt.
Breaking: Starmer says Diane Abbott is free to run for Labour
After days of intense speculation, Sir Keir Stamer has confirmed Diane Abbott is free to stand at the general election.
He said: “Diane was elected in 1987. The first black woman MP. She has been a trailblazer.
“She has carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life. The whip has obviously been restored to her now, and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.”
Asked about whether he understands Ms Abbott’s intention to stand, he replied: “She’s free to go forward as a Labour candidate. The whip is back with her. It’s been restored. And of course you know she was a trailblazer for many, many years and has been a path for others to come into politics.
“So, formally a matter for the NEC, I’ve not expressed a view up until now. She’s free to go forward as a Labour candidate.”
Revealed: Tories accused of neglect as children’s critical care units run out of beds
Breaking: Diane Abbott says not running as candidate until NEC endorsement
Diane Abbott has released a statement after Sir Keir Starmer’s claimed she can stand as a candidate in the general election.
She said: “My local party selected me as their candidate in 2022.
“But I will not be the official candidate until I am endorsed by the Labour National Executive at its meeting on Tuesday. So I am not saying anything until then.”
She adds: “The narrative does look positive”
Labour’s NEC member accuses Starmer of ‘nasty bully boy tactics’
Another member of Labour’s National Executive Committee has attacked Sir Keir Starmer of carrying out “nasty bully boy tactics” over his treatment of Diane Abbott.
The party’s governing body, with 41 members, is expected to meet on Tuesday to officially list Abbott as a Labour candidate.
Committee member Jess Barnard said Sir Keir’s U-turn was “a huge victory for Diane Abbott” and showed that “the decision was in Starmers hands all along”.
Scottish Conservative leader shows parties the red card
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has shown Mr Swinney the red card over his handling of the Michael Matheson scandal.
He has written to the SNP leader claiming it is “inconceivable” that Mr Matheson could be banned from Parliament but still remain a party member.
Mr Ross said: ”John Swinney deserves a straight red card for his handling of the Michael Matheson scandal.
“Within a month of becoming First Minister, he has proved he’s just another divisive SNP figure – like every other nationalist leader before him.”
He added: “I’m asking for voters who want action on their top priorities to help the Scottish Conservatives give SNP candidates the sending off they deserve.”
Pictured: Rihshi Sunak bottle feeds lambs in Cheshire
Opinion: Keir Starmer is already the ‘winner’ of next week’s TV election debate
On Tuesday – for only the third time in British history – the two leading candidates to be prime minister will face off against each other on live television. Chief political commentator John Rentoul predicts another poll boost for Labour:
Starmer’s £20k glow up: Labour peer pledges thousands for Keir’s ‘work clothing’
Just days after Sir Keir Starmer was spotted wearing a £500 hoodie from luxury French fashion house Sandro, it has emerged that a peer donated nearly £20,000 to help the Labour leader with a pre-election glow-up, Jabed Ahmed reports.
Former ASOS chairman Waheed Alli, who sits in the House of Lords, gave stylish Starmer £16,200 for “work clothing” and a further £2,485 for “multiple pairs of glasses”, according to the latest update to his register of interests.
The Labour leader appears to have put that donation to good use after he donned a chic Sandro Orion jacket – which currently retails at £519 at Harrods – while meeting voters in Brightonand pledging to tackle the cost of living crisis.
The donations were received on 17 April and 29 April and pledged by Lord Alli, the former boss of Chorion, fashion retailer Koovs, and was the chairman of online clothing giant ASOS.
Conservatives: ‘Starmer is weak leader who lost control’
The Conservatives have said Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to reselect Diane Abbott showed he is “a weak leader” who “lost control”.
The party has accused the Labour leader of “being pushed around by Angela Rayner”.
A party spokesperson said:“Under pressure, he’s showing he’s a weak leader who’s losing control of the Labour Party.
“That makes it even clearer that you don’t know what you’re going to get if Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister – apart from higher taxes on you and your family.”
‘The hard left howls in outrage. And Starmer folds,’ says Tory MP
Labour is facing backlash from all parties after Starmer has taken a U-turn on Diane Abbott.
Conservative former immigration minister Robert Jenrick blasted the decision and said the party hasn’t changed.
Mr Jenrick said: “A year ago, Starmer rightly suspended Diane Abbott for diminishing antisemitism. This week, Starmer’s team made it clear she won’t be readmitted.
“The hard left howls in outrage. And Starmer folds. Labour haven’t changed.”
