Six unions have called for Diane Abbott to be allowed to stand in the general election as Sir Keir Starmer said the party has not yet decided if the veteran MP will be barred.
ASLEF, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU posted a letter demanding Ms Abbott be allowed to stand at the upcoming general election, following a morning of speculation about her future.
The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington had the party whip restored on Tuesday after she was suspended last April over a letter she wrote in The Observer suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities.
Keir Starmer faced backlash over his treatment of the veteran MP with charities accusing the party of double standards and racism.
During his campaign trail in Devon, Rishi Sunak has urged Sir Keir Starmer to clear the air and explain Labour’s position over the row.
Meanwhile, the two major party leaders are set to go head-to-head on a televised ITV election debate on June 4, but Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has said that he should have been invited too.
Wes Streeting asked why Diane Abbott barred from election when former Tory MP allowed to join party
Ms Abbott today (29 May) claimed that the Labour Party will ban her from standing as a candidate at the upcoming general election on 4 July.
Mr Streeting was asked about today’s events during an interview with Kay Burley on Sky News.
Mr Streeting said: “At this general election, we want to welcome millions of people who have seen the chaos and incompetence of the Conservative Party and are looking for change with Labour.”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 13:50
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda flights plan is not credible, damning report by MPs finds
In the new report, MPs said that the Home Office is unwilling to say how many people it is planning to relocate to Rwanda, and how it would do this.
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 13:45
Keir Starmer and shadow health minister deliver speech in Worcester
Wes Streeting is pitching his NHS pledge to cut waiting lists in the West Midlands.
He says voters have two options: whether to “turn the page” and allow for a “changed new Labour government” or to “hand the matches back to the arsonists to finish the job”.
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 13:43
‘Diane Abbott treated in a vindictive, factional and cruel,’ Labour MP slams
Beth Winter has said although she welcomes the party’ decision to restore Diane Abbott’s whip, the veteran MP has been treated in a “vindictive, factional and cruel” way.
The MP for Cynon Valley is urging Keir Starmer to let Ms Abbott decide whether she wants to stand at the election.
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 13:30
Health minister urges Labour to condemn junior doctors strike
Tory MP Victoria Atkins has called the Labour party to condemn junior doctors strike during the election campaign.
Taking to social media, she said the wave of strikes from June 27 to July 2 coincides with “Labour’s heath day” and it was politically motivated.
She added: “This Conservative government has taken the tough decisions to keep public spending down to bear down on inflation, which is now back to normal.
“Labour would be in the hands of their union paymasters – meaning more spending and higher taxes.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 13:24
Comment | A desperate attempt to neutralise the threat of Reform UK
He writes: “The promise of a tax cut for pensioners is the latest policy aimed squarely at the over-65s. It is a small tax cut, worth possibly £300 a year by the end of the next parliament, and it is complicated – a pledge to raise the income-tax personal allowance for pensioners so that anyone relying on a state pension alone won’t be dragged into paying tax.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 13:21
Beleaguered Tories finally come out on top with voters – but only on campaign slogan
After a difficult start to the general election Rishi Sunak has finally come ahead of Keir Starmer in one crucial area in the polls.
The Conservatives are currently trailing Labour by between 12 and 27 points according to diffierent opinion polls published over the last 24 hours but one poll puts them ahead.
Our political editor David Maddox has more:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 13:03
Nigel Farage hints at deal with Rishi Sunak
Nigel Farage has hinted at a deal with Rishi Sunak to make him stop campaigning against the Conservatives, Archie Mitchell reports.
The Reform UK honorary president has highlighted “huge favours” he did for the Tories in the past and asked “what are they going to do back for me?”
Asked about whether he would accept a peerage to go away, Mr Farage told The Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots he had turned down “all that rubbish” in the past.
But he said: “I got rid of Mrs May with the Brexit Party. I stood aside for Boris to help him win a massive majority.
“What are they going to do back for me? I’m not asking them for anything other I’ve done them some huge favours over the years as a party.
“Give me something back. We might have a conversation.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 12:48
Six unions call on Starmer to let Diane run as a Labour MP
Several unions are demanding Keir Starmer to provide a clear update on the future of Diane Abbott.
ASLEF, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU have posted a letter allowing the veteran MP to stand at the general election.
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 12:35