Rayner backs Abbott staying on as Labour MP

Another day, another confusing twist in Labour’s stance on Diane Abbott. The ongoing saga has created significant disquiet over the last 48 hours, with Labour’s confusing messaging on the whole thing proving a rather effective distraction from Sir Keir Starmer’s party policies. It’s hardly the best way to kick off your election campaign…

First we heard that Labour would bar the long-standing MP from representing the party at the next election. Then, just hours after the story broke, Abbott was reinstated with the Labour whip, which some speculated was to allow her to retire with dignity. Then Starmer himself denied that Abbott had been ‘banned’ from standing at around the same time that the veteran MP addressed supporters on the steps of Hackney town hall, telling them she would not be ‘intimidated’ and plans to stay on as a Member of Parliament for ‘as long as possible’. And now Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner has waded into the debate.