Starmer risks Rayner rift as he refuses to back Abbott

He says it's a matter for the NEC just hours after she speaks out in support

- Nicholas Cecil

SIR Keir Starmer today refused to back Diane Abbott standing at the general election for the party as it looks to have a slate of candidates for the “future”.

Senior Labour figures sought to put a lid on the public row over whether the veteran MP, aged 70, should be allowed to stand again as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

Deputy Leader Angela Rayner and six union bosses have thrown their support behind Ms Abbott, Britain’s first black female MP.

Ms Abbott, who was suspended from the Labour parliamentary party over comments she made about racism, had the whip restored earlier this week.

This was seen at Westminster as part of a plan to allow her to retire as an MP with dignity after her decades-long parliamentary career.

But a huge row erupted after The Times was briefed that the Left-winger was being barred from standing as an MP. She later confirmed to the Standard that she believed this was the case.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland during a visit north of the border, Sir Keir today stressed the decision on Ms Abbott standing for Labour would be made by the party’s ruling national executive committee in coming days.