Labour facing questions as Abbott says she has been blocked from running in general election – UK politics live | Politics

Rishi Sunak has arrived in the south-west of England to campaign, having travelled by sleeper train overnight. He has already made an early morning media appearance, buying breakfast sandwiches for staff and the media at a seaside cafe. He described the train trip as “jolly” according to PA Media. He seems to have successfully avoided anybody taking a photo of him awkwardly eating a bacon sandwich. Sunak will be doing a Q&A later in Devon.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn hailed Diane Abbott as a “phenomenal individual” as he described the situation as a “pretty sorry state of affairs” for Labour.

PA Media reports Flynn told Sky News:

I think this is a pretty sorry reflection of the Labour Party and where it stands, what its values are and what its principles are at the moment. Diane Abbott gets her membership back at the very last minute but isn’t allowed to stand.

I’d just like to thank Diane for everything she has done, as a trailblazer for women in parliament, but also as the first black female in parliament. She’s a phenomenal individual and her legacy is going to be long lasting.

Flynn contrasted the treatment of Abbott with the fact that Labour leader Keir Starmer had welcomed with “open arms” defecting Conservative MP Natalie Elphicke, who he described as a “right-wing populist”.

Wes Streeting was also pressed about Diane Abbott while appearing on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. Justin Webb put it to the shadow health secretary that it went to a wider question of honesty about Keir Starmer’s leadership, pointing out that he had said the party’s process was carrying on, when it has now emerged that the process had finished.

Streeting said “Firstly, I’m not going to rely on hearsay. The second thing I’d say is that the Labour party has fundamentally changed from the party that was rejected in 2019.”

Webb pointed out it wasn’t “hearsay”, he was referring to what Starmer had actually said. Asked whether he wanted Abbott to remain as a Labour MP, and whether she should be allowed to stand, Streeting said:

Well, this is the decision for the Labour party’s national executive committee. And Kier Starmer, when he talks about improving standards in the Labour party, he really meant it. Now, I don’t know the specific factors that apply in Diane Abbott’s case. I was pleased actually yesterday that her suspension was lifted and the whip was restored.

He continued that it was “not my decision” whether Abbott stands or not, adding “I say this with enormous respect for Diane Abbott, and everything she has achieved in politics as a trailblazer, and someone that despite our disagreements, I have huge respect for.”

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has done the media round for Labour this morning, and was repeatedly questioned about Diane Abbott. On Times Radio, he was asked “Do you feel comfortable about what’s happened here with Diane Abbott?” and he replied “No, not particularly.”

He told listeners:

I know that Diane had the whip restored and her suspension lifted yesterday. This was following her suspension over remarks that she made, for which she later apologised. So I know at this stage, in terms of decisions about her candidature, as much as has been reported.

I think this has gone on for a very long time. I say this with enormous respect for everything that Diane has achieved in politics. Diane rightly apologised for the comments that she made that led to her suspension, as to the process, I think those questions are better directed to people responsible for the process.

He stressed he had not personally been involved in the process, and had “no responsibility” for it.

Kiran Stacey is a political correspondent for the Guardian based in Westminster

Diane Abbott has confirmed she has been banned from standing as a Labour MP at the next election, bringing to an end a near 40-year career as one of the party’s highest-profile politicians.

The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington issued a statement to broadcasters on Wednesday morning confirming she had been handed back the Labour whip following a months-long investigation into her conduct, but would not be allowed to stand again as a Labour candidate.

The decision leaves Abbott, the first black woman to be elected to the British parliament, facing a decision whether to run as an independent against the party she has represented since 1987 or to end her long parliamentary career.

According to both Sky and the BBC, Abbott said: “Although the whip has been restored, I am banned for standing as a Labour candidate.”

Her comments cap a chaotic 24 hours during which reports suggested she was about to be banned from standing as a Labour candidate, only for her allies to say she had not been informed of any such decision.

Abbott was suspended from the party in April last year after writing a letter to the Observer that appeared to play down racism against Jewish people. Abbott apologised for her remarks, but was placed under investigation and lost the Labour whip.

Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said this week the investigation was ongoing. But it emerged on Tuesday it had concluded in December, with Abbott being told to complete an online antisemitism training course in February.

Read more here: Diane Abbott says she has been banned from standing for Labour at election

Good morning! Labour are facing questions about how the disciplinary process around Diane Abbott unfolded. She has said she has had the Labour whip restored after a long suspension, but is being prevented by the party from standing in the election. More of that in a moment. Here are your headlines …

• Labour has pledged to clear the NHS waiting list backlog in England within five years

• Wes Streeting has mocked the Conservatives for trying to portray Keir Starmer – aged all of 61 – as old and doddery

• A poll shows Waitrose is the only major supermarket with a majority Tory customers among its customers

• Ticket touts have already drawn up plans to thwart any Labour attempt to clamp down on them

• Wealthy white men from rural areas are the UK’s biggest emitters of climate-heating gases from transport, according to a study

• The Royal Mail owner has agreed to a £3.57bn takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský

• Rishi Sunak is campaigning in Cornwall today – he took a sleeper train from Paddington

Ed Davey is launching the Liberal Democrat campaign at 10.10am, Starmer and Streeting are campaigning on the NHS in the Midlands with an event at 11.15am, Sunak will do a Q&A in Devon in the afternoon at 4.25pm, and Jeremy Corbyn is launching his campaign at 7pm.

It is Martin Belam here with you today. I do try to read all your comments, and dip into them where I think I can be helpful, but if you want to get my attention the best way is to email me – martin.belam@theguardian.com – especially if you have spotted errors or typos.