Tory chairman Richard Holden is demanding Keir Starmer answers about Diane Abbott
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Six unions have called for Diane Abbott to be allowed to stand in the general election as Sir Keir Starmer said the party has not yet decided if the veteran MP will be barred.
ASLEF, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU posted a letter demanding Ms Abbott be allowed to stand at the upcoming general election, following a morning of speculation about her future.
The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington had the party whip restored on Tuesday after she was suspended last April over a letter she wrote in The Observer suggesting Jewish people are not subjected to the same racism as some other minorities.
Keir Starmer faced backlash over his treatment of the veteran MP with charities accusing the party of double standards and racism.
During his campaign trail in Devon, Rishi Sunak has urged Sir Keir Starmer to clear the air and explain Labour’s position over the row.
Meanwhile, the two major party leaders are set to go head-to-head on a televised ITV election debate on June 4, but Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has said that he should have been invited too.
Comment | A desperate attempt to neutralise the threat of Reform UK
The Conservatives’ pensions ‘triple lock-plus’ – coupled with a plan to bring back national service – is proof of a campaign more focused on defending against Nigel Farage than on taking the fight to Keir Starmer, says John Rentoul.
He writes: “The promise of a tax cut for pensioners is the latest policy aimed squarely at the over-65s. It is a small tax cut, worth possibly £300 a year by the end of the next parliament, and it is complicated – a pledge to raise the income-tax personal allowance for pensioners so that anyone relying on a state pension alone won’t be dragged into paying tax.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 13:21
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.
Our political editor David Maddox has more:
Maryam Zakir-Hussain29 May 2024 13:03
Nigel Farage hints at deal with Rishi Sunak
Nigel Farage has hinted at a deal with Rishi Sunak to make him stop campaigning against the Conservatives, Archie Mitchell reports.
The Reform UK honorary president has highlighted “huge favours” he did for the Tories in the past and asked “what are they going to do back for me?”
Asked about whether he would accept a peerage to go away, Mr Farage told The Sun’s Never Mind the Ballots he had turned down “all that rubbish” in the past.
But he said: “I got rid of Mrs May with the Brexit Party. I stood aside for Boris to help him win a massive majority.
“What are they going to do back for me? I’m not asking them for anything other I’ve done them some huge favours over the years as a party.
“Give me something back. We might have a conversation.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 12:48
Six unions call on Starmer to let Diane run as a Labour MP
Several unions are demanding Keir Starmer to provide a clear update on the future of Diane Abbott.
ASLEF, TSSA, Unite, NUM, CWU and FBU have posted a letter allowing the veteran MP to stand at the general election.
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 12:35
Breaking: ‘Diane Abbott not barred from standing for Labour,’ Starmer says
Sir Keir Starmer has said that Diane Abbott has not been blocked from standing for Labour at the election.
Asked by the press to clear out questions surrounding the row after reports emerged claiming she would not be able to stand as a party candidate.
Starmer replied: “No, that’s not true. No decision has been taken to bar Diane Abbott.
“The process that we were going through ended with the restoration of the whip the other day.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 12:15
Starmer accuses Sunak of disrespecting NHS
Blaming the Tories for 14 years of NHS “chaos”, the Labour leader said the prime minister needs to take responsibly for issues like waiting lists.
He says: “We need to lift the workforce up. There are things you can do straight away, like respect and dignity of the workforce. And I don’t know what you feel, but if I were you and working in the NHS, and I had the prime minister simply blaming the NHS for the problems, rather than taking responsibility as a prime minister, it would go a long way.
“Because you can’t sort of clap our carers and key workers during the pandemic and then turn round when you’re challenged – as the prime minister does on the NHS – and say it’s not my fault, it’s the NHS staff. That is really disrespectful.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 12:00
Labour plans to train more GPs
The Labour leader says cutting waiting lists will tackle burnout among the workforce.
He also claims cutting waiting lists will also help with retention.
Keir Starmer adds: “There are plans now in place for the next generation of staff to come through… one of the problems we’ve had with the NHS is of course it takes time to train people.
“So politicians say, well, we won’t do that. We won’t put enough emphasis there. We’ll just do other sticking plaster fixes that don’t work. You’ve got to do the hard yards of training for the next generation to come through.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 11:54
Starmer blames Tories for ‘unforgivable’ state of NHS
Speaking to medical students at the University of Worcester, Starmer said the Conservatives have left the NHS in a worse position than when they first came into power.
He said: “It is going to be a clear choice at this election between carrying on with what we’ve had for the last 14 years, which to my mind is chaos and division and failure.
“And I include the NHS in that, and it breaks my heart frankly, as the party that set up the NHS, and with so many of my family members having contributed to the NHS.
“To leave the NHS in a worse state than when you found it, for me, is unforgivable in politics, whichever political party you are. That should never ever happen. And we will absolutely take this challenge up if we are privileged enough to come into power.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 11:50
Richard Holden: Sir Keir Starmer must come clean about ‘false statements’ on Abbott
The chairman of the Conservative Party has written to Sir Keir Starmer setting out three key questions he needs to answer about “false statements” over Diane Abbott, Archie Mitchell reports.
Richard Holden said: “The only logical explanation is that he and his shadow cabinet have been lying to the British people.
“Sir Keir Starmer needs to come clean today.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 11:40
‘The NHS runs through our family DNA,’ Starmer says
Speaking to medical students, the Labour leader says it is “heartwarming” to be there because his mum was once a nurse in the NHS, his sister was also a nurse, his wife works in a hospital, and her mum was a local GP.
He adds: “The NHS runs through our family like DNA, so it’s a really proud moment to stand here with you.
“To leave the NHS in a worse state than when you found it for me is unforgivable in politics, whichever political party you are. That should never ever happen and we will absolutely take this challenge up if we were privileged enough to come into power.”
Salma Ouaguira29 May 2024 11:39
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