Could Diane Abbott go to the Lords?

The Diane Abbott saga rumbles on. After questions over whether the former shadow home secretary would be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate in the election dominated the news agenda this week, Keir Starmer sought to end the media circus on Friday by declaring that the Corbyn ally was ‘free to go forward as a Labour candidate’. Abbott has suggested she will hold off popping the champagne corks at Starmer’s comments until after Tuesday’s National Executive Committee meeting when the candidates are finalised.

But could another option tempt Abbott? The Sunday Times reports that a string of Labour MPs – including Abbott – have been offered peerages in return for them standing down as MPs to make way for key Starmer allies. Yes, this is the same Keir Starmer-led Labour party that has made a big song and dance about abolishing the House of Lords and cleaning up the honours system.