General election – latest: Diane Abbott barred from standing for Labour as Starmer faces backlash over row

Diane Abbott has confirmed that she’s been barred by Labour from standing as a candidate for Labour.

Abbott told the BBC: “Although the whip has been restored I am banned from standing.

It comes as the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was suspended from the party more than a year ago after claiming the Jewish and Traveller communities are not subject to racism but rather prejudice.

She immediately apologised for the remarks.

Ms Abbott was subjected to an investigation into her comments that ended in December.

It is now unclear whether she will no stand as an independent candidate.

During his campaign trail today, the prime minister promised to scrap underperforming university degrees that “are letting young people down”.

He plans to use the funds to invest in new apprenticeships instead if elected.

Mr Sunak claimed one in five people doing university degrees are better off not doing them and vowed to implement a new regulator to look at the progression of courses.

Despite being asked to name a specific example of an underperforming degree, Mr Sunak did not do so.

The Tories claimed that the government would save £910m by 2030 if it ditched courses teaching 13 per cent of students due to unpaid taxpayer student loans.

Student loans in their original form were implemented under the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher.

ITV has announced today that the first head-to-head General Election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will take place on ITV1, ITVX and STV and STV Player on Tuesday, June 4 at 9pm, Archie Mitchell reports.

The hour-long debate, Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate, will be moderated by Julie Etchingham.

It will take place live in front of a studio audience and will be made and produced by MultiStory Media, part of ITV Studios.

The Lib Demnleader is today in Knighton, Powys, launching his campaign trail.

He has said the Tories have let down farmers in Welsh rural areas and vowed to fix the water sewage crisis.

Sir Ed added: “And they’ve allowed the water companies to pump their filthy sewage into our beautiful rivers and lakes and beaches.

“And here in Wales, the NHS is as bad as anywhere in the UK and people are finding it difficult, waiting hours for ambulances for their loved ones, taking weeks to get GP appointments and months for urgent cancer treatment. It really is time for change.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Sir Keir Starmer should be transparent about Diane Abbott’s position, Archie Mitchell reports.

On a campaign visit to Cornwall, he told reporters: “The Labour Party has been telling everybody this investigation into Diane Abbott is ongoing, it now appears it concluded months ago.

“So really it’s a question for them to clear this all up, what happened when, be transparent about it.”

Momentum has released a statement slamming Labour for its handling of the Diane Abbott situation.

The group claims the reported barred from standing at the election is a “slap in the face” for supporters of Britain’s first Black woman MP.

The MP for Hackney North says she is “dismayed” a the reports suggesting she has been barred as a candidate.

Taking to social media, she said: “Naturally I am delighted to have the Labour Whip restored and to be a member of the PLP.

“Thank you to all those who supported me along the way. I will be campaigning for a Labour victory.

“But I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate.”

Wes Streeting has said Labour is committed to matching the Tories’ promise to build 40 new hospitals.

The pledge was part of 2019 Conservative manifesto and was reiterated by Boris Johnson during his legislature.

The Tories were accused of not fulfilling their promises with Mr Johnson later clarifying some hospitals have been rebuild.

Labour now promise to continue the plan, with the shadow secretary saying: “I’m sure the Tories will sling mud in the coming weeks and say we’re going to scrap the programme.

“The health secretary tried to accuse me of that just the other week. I can tell you we are absolutely committed to seeing all of those projects delivered.”