No reason Diane Abbott can’t stand in general election as a Labour

Angela Rayner has said Diane Abbott should be able to stand as a Labour candidate – as she denied the party’s leadership is acting in a “factional way”.

The deputy Labour leader told political editor Beth Rigby on the Sky News Daily Podcast that she can’t see any reason why the veteran Corbyn ally “can’t be a Labour MP if that’s what she wants to do”.

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A row erupted over Ms Abbott’s future after she finally had the whip restored following a year-long suspension over comments she made about Jewish people not facing racism.

While the move paved the way for her to fight for her seat in Hackney North, which she has represented for 37 years, there were reports she would be barred from standing.

But Ms Rayner told Sky News: “I don’t think there’s any reason why Diane can’t stand as a Labour MP.

“She’s gone through a process, that’s right… she apologised, as far as I’ve seen, that has been dealt with.

“The whip has told her that she’s back as a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

“I don’t see any reason why she can’t be a Labour MP.”

Asked if she would like to see Ms Abbott fight for her seat in the general election, Ms Rayner said she would like to see her “go on her terms if she wants to or if she wants to stay, then she should be able to stay”.

She called Ms Abbott, the first black woman to be elected to parliament, a “trailblazer” and said briefings about her were “very disrespectful”.

“You’ve got to respect that she is a formidable representative for her constituents and she’s been an inspiration to many people who see that she is a trailblazer,” Ms Rayner said.

“What troubles me is these anonymous briefings.

“Keir absolutely despises them… he doesn’t like…