Labour MP blocked from standing after 'out of the blue' complaint - live updates (2024)

Sir Keir to head to Wales on seventh day of campaign

Sir Keir Starmer will head to Wales on Thursday to campaign alongside embattled First Minister Vaughan Gething as the General Election contest continues.
The Labour leader is expected to launch his party's "doorstep offer" to Welsh voters during an event with Mr Gething and shadow Wales secretary Jo Stevens in South Wales. His visit comes a day after it was confirmed that Mr Gething will face a confidence vote in the Welsh Senedd following the collapse of a co-operation deal with Plaid Cymru earlier this month.
The collapse of the deal followed a series of rows involving Mr Gething, who became First Minister in March and now faces a confidence vote on June 5. On Wednesday, Sir Keir gave his backing to the First Minister, telling reporters during a campaign stop in Worcestershire that Mr Gething is "doing a good job".
As well as discussing Labour's "six first steps", Thursday's event is expected to see Sir Keir recommit to investing in the UK's steel industry amid concerns about job losses at Port Talbot steelworks. He is also expected to promise to put Wales at the centre of his party's plans for cleaner, cheaper energy and to work with the Welsh Government to cut NHS waiting times and recruit more teachers and police officers.

Tory Chair 'not sure' why Truss appeared on far-right misogynist's show

Tory chairman Richard Holden has said he would raise the issue of Liz Truss appearing on 'hate-mongering' far-right show, Lotus Eaters, with her personally.

Rishi Sunak has faced calls from the likes of Jess Phillips to deselect Truss as the Tory candidate for her seat after she agreed to appear on the show. The platform was set up by Carl Benjamin after being banned from YouTube for his comments. Benjamin has been known to make vile misogynist comments, and once told Labour MP Jess Phillips "I wouldn't even rape you".

Mr Holden told LBC he had never heard of Benjamin and had not known Truss would appear on his show. Of the comments about Phillips, he said: "I think these comments are unbelievably vile and totally appalling. I'm sure that Liz Truss, the former prime minister, would agree. Why she's appeared, I don't know."

Corbyn 'disturbed' by treatment of Diane Abbott

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was "disturbed" at the treatment of former colleague Diane Abbott by Labour as she faces an uncertain wait over whether she will defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat at the General Election.

Speaking at a campaign launch rally in North London tonight, he said: "I've known Diane for years and years, obviously she's been a great comrade and colleague in Parliament. She was elected in 1987, first black woman MP and whenever I read the feed to her social media my stomach churns with the abuse that she puts up with, the threats she's suffered, the indignity that's been thrown at her and she's come through it all so strong."

He added: "I am disturbed at the way Diane's been treated - you can see what's happened with me. There has to be a voice for justice for peace and socialism in our society. Look at the way democracy has been denied by so many people in our society."

Woman laughs as Sunak pledges 'I know things have been tough'

A woman was spotted laughing at Rishi Sunak's pledges that life is getting better for Brits under the Tories as the PM hit the campaign trail.

Sunak was meeting employees at military vehicles firm Supacat in Dunkeswell, Devon, earlier today. But while speaking about the party's pledges, one woman was seen smirking and pulling bemused faces as the PM claimed life was improving due to his policies.

The woman could be seen turning and looking to colleagues as Sunak addressed the room, telling them: "It's been difficult the last few years. You know that, I know that. We had the pandemic then a war in Ukraine and everything that did impact all of you. But I hope you saw through all of that that I had your back."

RAF veteran who's waited years for surgery gives stark message to Tories

An RAF veteran forced to wait for life changing surgery for over three years after being injured on duty says the Tories must be stopped.

Stephen Tyrrell, 65, told The Mirror he's forced to wear a morphine patch to cope with the excruciating pain he endures. But despite being told by two consultants since December 2020 that he needs surgery on his spine, he's still no closer to getting the treatment he requires.

He told a Labour rally in Worcester that Rishi Sunak's government can’t be trusted with the NHS as Keir Starmer warned of the dangers of giving the Conservatives another five years. Mr Tyrrell, from Lincoln, voiced his frustration, telling The Mirror: “They told me they’d look after me when I was injured."

Abbott vows to stand as candidate whatever happens

Diane Abbott has threatened to stand against Labour if they block her from being a candidate.
At a rally in her constituency tonight, she vowed to be the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington "as long as it is possible".
Ms Abbott - the first Black woman elected to Parliament in 1987 - has claimed she has been blocked from standing for re-election by party bosses. But Keir Starmer today insisted no decision had been taken, telling reporters on the campaign trail in Worcester it was "not true" she had been barred.

NHS staff 'crying out for a change' after 1,000 sign new letter

Wes Streeting has said frontline workers are "crying out for change" after the Mirror revealed that over 1,000 had signed a letter backing Labour's new NHS plan.

"Together, we will get the NHS back on its feet, so patients are treated on time again", the shadow health secretary wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

NHS staff are crying out for change.

Labour has a plan to deliver it.

Together, we will get the NHS back on its feet, so patients are treated on time again.https://t.co/7uDcjbmZXl

— Wes Streeting (@wesstreeting) May 29, 2024

TV debates to take place in Scotland

Scotland's political leaders are set to face off in the first televised debate of the General Election next week.

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Lib Dems will debate the key issues facing the country on STV on Monday, June 3.

It was reported earlier today that Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will face each other in a head-to-head debate on ITV next Tuesday at 9pm.

Hundreds of NHS workers back Labour plans to cut waiting lists

Over 1,000 NHS frontline workers have backed Labour's plan to cut hospital waiting lists in just the past 24 hours.
Keir Starmer has vowed to clear waits of more than 18 weeks within five years of taking office if he becomes PM. Labour has said it will create an additional 40,000 appointments, scans and operations each week during evenings and weekends and double the numbers of scanners. The party is warning that the treatment backlog, which currently stands at 7.54million, could rise to 10million if the Conservatives are in office for another five years.
NHS workers have been signing an open letter in support of Labour's NHS blueprint, stating the last Labour government "showed that it's possible to cut waiting lists when you give the NHS the backing it needs and when you work with staff instead of blaming them".

Labour MP suspended over 'politically-motivated complaint' about historic behaviour

Lloyd Russell-Moyle has been suspended from the Labour Party after a complaint was made about his behaviour.

The Brighton Kemptown MP said in a statement that he received an administrative suspension letter "out of the blue". He said: "Someone (who remains anonymous to me) has made what I believe to be a vexatious and politically motivated complaint about my behaviour eight years ago. This is a false allegation that I dispute totally and I believe it was designed to disrupt this election.

"There isn't enough time to defend myself as these processes within the party take too long, so the party have told me that I will not be eligible to be a candidate at the next election." He said he aims to cooperate with the investigation and clear his name. The PA news agency understands that Mr Russell-Moyle was suspended from the party pending investigation after a serious complaint was received last week.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: "The Labour Party takes all complaints extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken." Mr Russell-Moyle said he would continue to contribute to public life in different ways "under what I hope is a Labour government".

Corbyn launches campaign standing as independent after Labour expulsion

Jeremy Corbyn will tonight spearhead his campaign as he defends his seat as an independent after being expelled from Labour.

The ex-Labour leader will stand independently for Islington North, launching his campaign at a community centre he opened back in 2018. Corbyn has sat independently since having the whip suspended in October 2020, before he was officially expelled from the party last week.

The Mirror understands Corbyn is set to give a speech, where he will vow to stand up for those “who aren’t being served by our political system…who aren’t being heard” and whose “demands fall on deaf ears.” Among his demands, his team says, are rent controls, a fully-public NHS, the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, public ownership of water and energy, and an end to the occupation of Palestine.

What are the polls saying one week into the campaign?

Four more national opinion polls have been published, with all but one putting Labour more than 25 points ahead of the Tories.

• The oldest poll to be published was carried out on May 24 and 25 by JL Partners among 2,013 British adults online, and puts Labour on 40%, the Conservatives on 28%, Reform on 12% and the Liberal Democrats on 10%, with the Greens on 5%, the SNP on 3%, Plaid Cymru on 1% and other parties on 1%.
• A poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies, carried out from May 25 to 27 and involving 12,000 British adults online, puts Labour on 46%, the Conservatives on 23%, Reform on 13% and the Lib Dems on 9%, with the Greens on 5%, the SNP on 3% and others on 3%.
• Survation published a poll of 2,040 UK adults online, carried out from May 24 to 27, which has Labour on 47%, the Conservatives on 24%, the Lib Dems on 11% and Reform on 8%, with the SNP and Greens both on 3%, Plaid Cymru on 1% and other parties on 4%.
• The most recent poll, carried out on May 27 and 28 by YouGov among 2,128 British adults online, puts Labour on 47%, the Tories on 20%, Reform on 12% and the Lib Dems on 9%, with the Greens on 7%, the SNP on 3%, Plaid Cymru on 1% and other parties on 2%.

A simple average of all polls carried out wholly or partly during the seven days to May 29 puts Labour on 45%, 21 percentage points ahead of the Conservatives on 24%, followed by Reform on 12%, the Lib Dems on 10% and the Greens on 6%.

Diane Abbott 'should be allowed to defend seat', Jess Phillips claims

Jess Phillips has said she thinks Diane Abbott will be able to defend her Labour seat in the General Election, after party leader Sir Keir Starmer said no decision had been made on the matter.
The Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley told Times Radio: "I think that Diane should be allowed to stand. And I think that the delay has been unedifying. The whole thing has been unedifying.
"I'm not sure why there is this confusion or a difference of opinion. It sounds to me like Diane will be able to stand. What I think everybody had hoped for in this process was that, and obviously we don't know that the election was coming, was that Diane would be readmitted back to the Labour Party post. The investigation, which I've said before publicly, took too long."

PM claims he's Southampton season passholder - but never attends matches

Rishi Sunak has revealed he has a season ticket for Southampton - but never goes to any matches.

At a campaign event in Devon, the PM was asked by a member of the public if he’d get a season ticket for his favourite football team if he’s kicked out of No10 in a few weeks. Mr Sunak replied: “I'm already a season ticket holder at St Mary's, although it's fair to say I don't get to any games. But my family were all at Wembley at the weekend. And it was a very good result. I am looking forward to watching Premier League football next season.”

Southampton secured promotion after a 1-0 win against Leeds United on Sunday saw them lift the Championship playoff trophy. Mr Sunak did not attend the match. Southampton season tickets cost between £379 and £1,350.

Minister claims Labour being completely transparent about spending plans

Darren Jones has said his party is being "very honest with the public" about its spending pledges, claiming there is a £71 billion black hole in the Conservative Party's plans.

The shadow Treasury ministre told press today "the threat to family finances from this chaotic Conservative campaign is now so severe it must be exposed and must stop". He said: "Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, was very clear yesterday, that all of our policies are fully funded and fully costed.

"The way we raise the money to pay for those policies - those first six steps that an incoming Labour government will implement - is through the closure to the loopholes that we have set out, so private school VAT, private equity bonus tax, closing the non-dom loopholes, the energy profits levy on windfall in the oil and gas industry, and investing to tackle tax avoidance in the system.

"None of our policies requires any further funding and that's why there is a commitment to not raising taxes in the manifesto in this election."

Tories accused of having 'kamikaze manifesto'

Mortgages could rise by up to £350 a month under the Tories' spending plans, Labour's Darren Jones claims.

The Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury said lessons still hadn't been learned from Liz Truss's disastrous small spell as PM, whose mini-budget sent interest rates soaring.

At an emergency press conference, Labour’s Darren Jones claims the Tories have set out £71billion in unfunded commitments which, he claims, would hit mortgages by £350 a month.

He accuses Rishi Sunak of a “kamikaze manifesto” and failing to learn the lessons of Liz Truss. pic.twitter.com/c6JT97lNMe

— Ashley Cowburn (@ashcowburn) May 29, 2024

Foreign healthcare workers will be able to bring their children with them, says Wes Streeting

Labour has "no plans" to ban children and dependents of overseas healthcare workers from staying in the UK, the shadow health minister says.

Wes Streeting said on the campaign trail in Worcester today that he was "proud of the fact the NHS is an international workforce". He added there was currently a "global shortage" of medical staff and that the NHS had become reliant on foreign workers under the Tories.

Asked whether he would reverse a ban on overseas healthcare staff bringing their dependants to the UK, Mr Streeting said: "I'm not aware of any plans by (shadow home secretary) Yvette Cooper to change those rules. Obviously we'll be working really closely together and I want to make sure that by developing our homegrown talent I help Yvette reduce net migration."

The Government brought in the ban on dependants in March in an effort to reduce migration levels. But health and social care providers warned the move could drive people from the sector, exacerbating staffing difficulties.

'Tory spending plans could send UK spiralling back into recession,' shadow minister claims

Tory spending plans risk sending interest rates soaring and could plunge the UK back into recession, Labour has claimed.

Shadow Treasury chief secretary Darren Jones used a press conference in London to highlight the costs associated with policies set out so far by Rishi Sunak during the General Election campaign. He claimed the Conservatives had so far promised "£71 billion of unfunded spending commitments" and warned that could result in a 2.5 percentage point hike to interest rates.

Mr Jones said: "If the Conservatives carry on down this path, with unsustainable, unfunded promises, it could cause a loss in market confidence once again, leading to increases in interest rates. It will mean our economy sliding back into recession and ordinary people around the country paying the price with their jobs and their mortgage bills all over again."

How many teenagers could be called up in your area under Rishi Sunak's National Service plan

More than 800,000 18-year-olds could be ordered to join the armed forces or carry out voluntary work under Rishi Sunak's plan to bring back compulsory national service.

Under the Tory scheme, due to be fully in place by 2029-30 if Mr Sunak wins the election, all 18-year-olds will be legally required to take up either a 12-month placement in the armed forces or cyber defence or give up the equivalent of one weekend a month to volunteer in their communities.

That means the first generation of teenagers to carry out national service since 1960 will currently be aged about 13. According to population estimates, there will be about 830,000 18-year-olds in 2029 who would be compelled to join the military or carry out voluntary work.

Check our interactive map to see how many 18-year-olds would be affected in your area

Rishi Sunak urged to sack Liz Truss over spot on far-right platform

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been urged to deselect Liz Truss over hius appearance on a far-right platform founded by a failed Ukip candidate who made a rape joke about a Labour MP.

Britain's least successful Prime Minister is slated to be interviewed on the Lotus Eaters, set up by controversial YouTuber Carl Benjamin after the streaming platform stripped him of his ability to make money from his videos.

Labour MP Jess Phillips, the former shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, wrote to Sunak to condemn the move. She highlighted what she called Benjamin's "despicable views about violence against women" after he told her some years ago he "wouldn't even rape you".

In her letter to the Prime Minister, Ms Phillips wrote: "It is clear that anyone willing to appear on this hateful platform is not suitable to be a candidate for any political party. Even Reform UK deselected one of its candidates after his harmful views and work as a content creator for Lotus Eaters was exposed.

"If you have any decency, you will deselect Liz Truss as Conservative candidate for South West Norfolk. Anything less than this will show how weak you are and how far the Conservative Party has sunk."

Read more: Rishi Sunak urged to sack Liz Truss over spot on far-right Lotus Eaters platform

Rishi Sunak wears £750 backpack to one of nation's poorest areas

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wore a £750 backpack as he headed over to one of the poorest areas in the country.

Sunak sported the luxury Tumi bag, monogrammed with his initials "RS" as he took the sleeper train to Penzance, Cornwall. The backpack is believed to be the Tumi Arrive Bradley backpack that was sold for £750 in high-end stores such as Selfridges.

When the PM arrived in Cornwall he faced a barrage of questions about why he took levelling up funds away from the county to pay for his National Service plan. But Sunak insisted he was "absolutely committed" to levelling up in Cornwall.

The scheme could deprive some of the UK's poorest areas of cash for the community. Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Cornwall and the Tees Valley are among the areas with the most to lose from closing the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and using £1.5billion to pay for National Service instead, according to research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). The UKSPF is worth £145 per person in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The PM has a history of flaunting his wealth on the campaign trail. In July 2022, he wore £490 Prada suede shoes on a visit to a building site as he campaigned to be Tory leader.

Read more: Rishi Sunak wears £750 backpack to one of country's poorest areas

Keir Starmer said he's 'shocked' the government has not solved junior doctor issue

Sir Keir Starmer has accused the Tories of failing to solve the issues junior doctors face.

Speaking outside a Labour Q&A event in the West Midlands, the leader said the Government should have negotiated a settlement by now.

"What they've effectively done is kicked it the other side of the general election. That's unforgivable," he said.

Sir Keir said he doesn't want the strike to happen due to the impact on patients, adding that Labour would be left with the responsibility of solving the issue if elected.

Tory's slam junior doctors' strike so close to election

Tory health minister Victoria Atkins has criticised junior doctors for choosing to strike so close to the election date, and urged Labour to do the same.

Posting on Twitter, the health secretary said that the decision to announce the strikes - which will finish just days before polling day -was politically motivated.

She said: "[The decision to announce] on Labour's health day shows this was only ever political and not about patients or staff".

Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting fielded questions from medical students this morning.

She branded it a "highly cynical tactic", adding: "This Conservative government has taken the tough decisions to keep public spending down to bear down on inflation, which is now back to normal.

"Labour would be in the hands of their union paymasters - meaning more spending and higher taxes."

"No decision" as yet on Diane Abbott, Starmer says

Sir Keir Starmer has said that there has been no decision made on whether Diane Abbott will be banned from standing at the next General Election.

The veteran MP earlier said she was "dismayed" over the possibility that she could be prohibited from running for her seat in Hackney and North and Stoke Newington. Ms Abbott was suspended from the party last year over anti-Semitic remarks.

Starmer said today: "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."

Sir Keir Starmer speaks on homelessness crisis

At the meeting, Sir Keir Starmer was asked how he planned to support homeless people back into housing.

He said the issue has become "a lot worse", branding it "terrible".

"We have to tackle it," he added as he drew attention about work being done in areas with Labour mayors.

Starmer and Streeting field questions on the NHS

Sir Keir Starmer and shadow health secretary are on the campaign trail - speaking to medical students in the West Midlands.

He thanked the attendees for training to work in the medical field, adding it's "so important for the health of our country".

"It means a huge amount to me and to Wes [Streeting] politically, in terms of our ambitions for an incoming Labour government."

He added a personal note, saying that it was "heartwarming" to speak with them because his mother was a nurse in the NHS. His wife also works in the health service.

"The NHS runs through our family like DNA, so it's a really proud moment to stand here with you," the Labour leader says.

Junior doctors will strike just before general election

England's junior doctors plan to hold their next strike from June 27 until July 2 - days before the election.

Their strike is part of a long-running dispute over pay, according to the British Medical Association.

BMA junior doctors committee co-chairmen Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi said: "We made clear to the Government that we would strike unless discussions ended in a credible pay offer. For more than 18 months we have been asking Rishi Sunak to put forward proposals to restore the pay junior doctors have lost over the past 15 years - equal to more than a quarter in real terms.

Junior doctors will go on strike just days before General Election

Date of first General Election TV debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak announced

Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will go head-to-head in the first TV debate of the General Election next week.

ITV announced today the first showdown between the Labour leader and the PM will be aired from 8pm on Tuesday June 4.

The broadcaster said the hour-long debate - Sunak v Starmer: The ITV Debate - will be moderated by presenter Julie Etchingham in front of a studio audience.

Michael Jermey, ITV's Director of News and Current Affairs said, "Millions of viewers value the election debates. They provide a chance to see and hear the party leaders set out their pitch to the country, debate directly with each other and take questions from voters.

"ITV is pleased to be broadcasting the first debate in this year's election campaign.”

First General Election TV debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak announced

Diane Abbott 'dismayed' she could be barred from Labour

Veteran MP Diane Abbott today said she is "delighted" to have the whip back - meaning she is once again a member of the Parliamentary Labour party. However, she is "dismayed" that the party could prohibit her from standing at the next election.

"Thank you to all those who supported me along the way. I will be campaigning for a Labour victory," she said in her first public comments since the news was announced yesterday.

She continued: "I am very dismayed that numerous reports suggest I have been barred as a candidate."

The party is yet to provide any clarity as to whether Ms Abbott will be allowed to run.

Angela Rayner is not owed an apology, Tories say

The Tory party doesn't owe Angela Rayner an apology for unnecessarily reporting her to Metropolitan Police, according to a Conservative MP.

A police investigation was launched into Ms Rayner's living arrangements after concerns were raised by Tory party deputy chair James Daly. The concerns were about the houses she occupied back in 2010.

Reports alleged that she lived at her then-husband's home in Stockport - but was actually registered to vote at her own property. This would have been a breach of election laws.

Throughout the probe, Ms Rayner maintained her innocence. Her name has now been cleared after police said it would be taking no further action.

Speaking to Sky News about whether Ms Rayner deserved an apology, Tory minister Damian Hinds said: "This all could have been cleared up a great deal earlier had Sir Keir Starmer simply read Angela's tax advice and it had been published.

"That's what all the unclarity, all the uncertainty was about."

He continued: "It could have been cleared up quite some time ago. And it was let drag on. And that, I think, is regrettable."

Pushed on if Mr Daly should apologise, he replied: "No."