Breaking – Diane Abbott ‘free to go forward’ as Labour candidate, Starmer says

Labour leader Keir Starmer says Diane Abbott is “free to go forward as a Labour candidate”, after days of speculation about her political future.

Asked if Abbott will be allowed to run on behalf of Labour, Starmer replied: “She is free to go forward as a Labour candidate, the whip is back with her, it’s been restored.”

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Veteran left-winger Abbott claimed she had been banned from standing as a Labour candidate – something Starmer previously denied.

Abbott was suspended as a Labour MP last year after saying Jewish, Irish and Traveller people do not face racism “all their lives”. She has since apologised and undergone an antisemitism awareness course.