Sir Keir Starmer’s hopes for a flying start to his general election campaign were brought down to earth by the row over whether Diane Abbott would be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate.

“I don’t see any reason why Diane Abbott can’t stand as a Labour MP going forward,” she told ITV. Asked if she had told Sir Keir what she thought, Ms Rayner, who is the Left’s standard ...

Diane should have the whip restored now so she can stand as Labour's candidate in the GE.' Ms Abbott had told the BBC this morning: 'Although the whip has been restored, I am banned from standing ...