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Diane Abbott has vowed to be the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington “as long as it is possible” amid a row over her political future.
Addressing a crowd outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday evening, the Labour veteran said: “You have always stood with me in good times and bad and I will always stand with you.”
Ms Abbott had the Labour whip restored on Tuesday, but the question of whether or not she will be able to stand as a candidate for the party in the general election remains mired in uncertainty.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had sent a message of support to Ms Abbott as he spoke at a rally in north London where he launched his own independent campaign for the Islington North seat after being banned from running for Labour.
In another twist in Labour’s candidacy drama on Wednesday, MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a “vexatious and politically motivated complaint” against him, and that he cannot stand under the Labour banner at the election.
The PA news agency understands that Mr Russell-Moyle was suspended from the party pending investigation after a serious complaint was received last week.
Key Points
- Diane Abbott vows to be MP ‘as long as it is possible'
- MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle suspended from Labour Party after complaint
- Six unions call on Starmer to let Diane run as a Labour MP
- Corbyn launches campaign to be an Independent MP for Islington North
- Sir Bill Cash joins record exodus of MPs from Tory party as he announces resignation
- 'Handling of Diane Abbot is a total farce,’ Labour member slams
Labour descends into chaos over botched Diane Abbott suspension
Labour’s election campaign descended into chaos as the future of Diane Abbott threatened to derail the party’s important announcements on health and the economy.
The future of the trailblazing MP for Hackney North, who was the first black woman to be elected to parliament, was thrown into confusion when she revealed she had been barred from standing again despite having the party whip restored following months of suspension.
But within hours, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted that Ms Abbott had “not been barred” from standing as a candidate as he tried to promote Labour’s policy on cutting NHS waiting lists.
Labour descends into chaos over botched Diane Abbott suspension
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that Diane Abbott is not barred from standing as a party candidate again
Maryam Zakir-Hussain30 May 2024 02:00 1717027200What to know as Conservatives and Labour vie for votes 1 week into Britain's election campaign
The first week of Britain’s six-week election campaign has seen frenetic activity but not much movement.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s surprise decision to call a July 4 election set off a scramble by political parties to finalize candidate lists, arrange photo opportunities and send leaders off to key battlegrounds around the country. The parties have also begun making campaign promises to British voters.
Here are five lessons from the campaign so far:
What to know as Conservatives and Labour vie for votes 1 week into Britain's election campaign
The first week of Britain’s six-week election campaign has seen frenetic activity but not much movement
Maryam Zakir-Hussain30 May 2024 01:00 1717023600Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda flights plan is not credible, damning report by MPs finds
Rishi Sunak has been dealt a huge blow after Parliament’s most infuential committee concluded that the Home Office “does not have a credible plan” for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The unanimous report by the Public Accounts Committee from a cross-party group of MPs with a Tory majority found said it had “little confidence” in the Home Office’s ability to implement the Rwanda plan.
The Rwanda deportation flights have long been Mr Sunak’s solution to “stopping the small boats” and ending the flow of asylum seekers to British shores.
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda flights plan is not credible, damning report by MPs finds
MPs say they have ‘little confidence’ in Home Office’s ability to organise deportation flights to Rwanda
Maryam Zakir-Hussain30 May 2024 00:00 1717020855MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle suspended from Labour Party after complaint
MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle has been suspended from the Labour Party after a complaint was made about his behaviour.
The Brighton Kemptown MP said in a statement that he received an administrative suspension letter “out of the blue”.
He said: “Someone (who remains anonymous to me) has made what I believe to be a vexatious and politically motivated complaint about my behaviour eight years ago. This is a false allegation that I dispute totally and I believe it was designed to disrupt this election.
Helen Corbett reports:
MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle suspended from Labour Party after complaint
The Brighton Kemptown MP said he had been suspended due to a complaint about his behaviour.
Tara Cobham29 May 2024 23:14 1717020029When is the first Sunak-Starmer election debate?
With the clock ticking down to the general election on 4 July, the major parties are facing a race to win over voters before polling day.
The Conservatives and Labour have been battling it out on issues such as the economy, immigration and national security so far and the parties’ leaders, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, are also set to square off in TV debates.
ITV announced on Wednesday that the first head-to-head general election debate between the pair will take place on ITV1, ITVX and STV and STV Player on Tuesday 4th June at 9pm.
When is the first Sunak-Starmer election debate?
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer are scheduled to take part in two head-to-head TV debates
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 23:00 1717018065Hundreds gather outside Hackney town hall in support of Diane Abbott
Hundreds of people gathered outside Hackney town hall on Wednesday in support of Diane Abbott, reports The Independent’s race correspondent Nadine White from Hackney.
Allies stood on the building’s steps holding ‘I stand with Diane’ placards, a ‘hands off our MP’ sign and a red #SolidarityWithDianeAbbott banner.
Speeches from the rally’s organisers, constituents and Ms Abbott herself were met with murmurs of agreement among the crowd and rapturous applause.
“Diane is a beacon for us, we are here for her, we want her to stand, we need her voice to be out there. So we stand with Diane,” organiser Lucie Scott told the crowd which chanted “we stand with Diane” numerous times in response.
Speaking to The Independent after the rally, Ms Scott said: “We don’t want an independent candidate. You have a two-party system, you’ve got the machinery, the mechanisms of government.
“As one individual, you’re very restricted in what you can do. She’s been loyal: why should she have to leave [Labour] and start again from a party she’s been in for 40 years?
“If the Labour Party’s changed so much [that] she’s now not eligible to stand, then there’s something wrong with the current Labour Party, and they need to listen if they want to win because they do need the Black vote. And we are relevant."
No further action will be taken against Rayner by HMRC, according to reports
No further action will be taken against Angela Rayner by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), it has been reported.
The deputy Labour leader owes no capital gains tax for the 2015 sale of her former council house in Stockport, HMRC confirmed in a document, according to the Guardian.
Following a consideration of the evidence two weeks ago, the tax authority concluded the house was Ms Rayner’s principal residence the entire time she owned it, which meant that no tax would be due.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police and Stockport Council both confirmed they would be taking no further action against Ms Rayner following weeks of investigations.
The force said it had shared details of its investigation with HMRC because tax falls out of its jurisdiction.
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.
According to Redfield and Wilton, the Conservative’s campaign slogan is preferred by voters.
Beleaguered Tories finally come out on top with voters – but only on campaign slogan
A pollster has described Labour’s “Change” slogan as “boring”
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 22:00 1717013348‘When I heard the news I went potty’: Diane Abbott’s Hackney constituents react to Labour ‘election ban’
A Hackney resident has vowed to not vote Labour at the general election for the first time in her life because of the “disgusting” way she say said the party had treated Diane Abbott.
Mignol Gregory, 78, was among Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituents reacting to the row over the future of their MP on Wednesday, as Ms Abbott vowed to represent them for “as long as it is possible” at a rally in the evening.
Veteran left-winger Ms Abbott had the Labour whip restored on Tuesday following her suspension, but whether or not she will be able to stand as a candidate for the party in the 4 July general election remains mired in uncertainty.
‘It’s disgusting’: Diane Abbott’s Hackney constituents react to Labour ‘election ban’
People living in Diane Abbott’s Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency voiced their views as the uncertainty hangs over the future of the veteran MP
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 21:09 1717012265Why is this election so divided between Britain’s old and young?
Rishi Sunak targeting core older voters while Labour woos the young is widening the age gap in politics, says Sean O’Grady:
In this battle for votes it is often said there isn’t much difference between Labour and the Conservatives, especially on the broad thrust of economic policy. But one of the more striking features of the campaign is the very different ways the two main parties are chasing the support of particular generations.
Read more here:
Why is this election so divided between Britain’s old and young?
Rishi Sunak targeting core older voters while Labour woos the young is widening the age gap in politics, says Sean O’Grady
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 20:51 Newer1 / 6Older
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