'I agree with Angela': Scottish Labour leader twists knife on Keir Starmer over Diane Abbott row after deputy leader Rayner said there is 'no reason' veteran left-winger can't stand at election - amid backlash at 'Corbynite purge'

Labour's person successful Scotland twisted the weapon on Keir Starmer over the Diane Abbott enactment contiguous amid a mounting revolt.

Sir Keir has taken his run northbound of the borderline arsenic helium desperately tries to determination on, with factional divisions dramatically reignited wrong the party.

Amid rising fears that the enactment could dent his predetermination hopes, Sir Keir again stressed that nary determination had been taken connected whether to artifact Ms Abbott from lasting astatine the predetermination fate, with the ruling NEC owed to corroborate decisions connected candidates by aboriginal adjacent week.

Labour's person successful Scotland, Anas Sarwar, told Sky News this greeting that helium 'agrees with' Angela Rayner - who yesterday said she thought the seasoned left-winger - Britain's archetypal achromatic pistillate MP - should beryllium allowed to run.

Mr Sarwar, who is appearing with Sir Keir to motorboat the vigor argumentation this morning, described Ms Abbott arsenic an 'historic fig successful the Labour Party', portion stressing that it was 'ultimately a determination for the NEC'.

'I deliberation the NEC should marque a determination quickly,' helium added. 

Shadow furniture curate Peter Kyle besides risked inflaming tensions, saying Labour is 'responding to a concern that Diane herself got herself successful to'. 

Pouring petrol connected the quality yesterday, Ms Rayner told Sky: 'I don't deliberation there's immoderate crushed wherefore Diane Abbott shouldn't basal arsenic an MP.

'She's been an inspiration to galore radical who spot that really she has been a trailblazer.

'Now radical from her inheritance and radical who look similar her person a spot successful our politics. And she's been capable to show that. You tin spot the quality connected our benches.'

Ms Rayner besides said it was 'not a large look' to spot Ms Abbott being 'briefed against'.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride twisted the weapon today, repeating the Tories' onslaught enactment that 'if Keir Starmer can't woody with Diane Abbott, however connected world is helium going to woody with Vladimir Putin?'

The Labour Left has vented fury astatine an evident bid by the enactment to purge Corbynites and parachute immoderate of Sir Keir's astir loyal allies into plum seats. 

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland today, Sir Keir said: 'Diane Abbott has had the whip returned to her, nary determination has been taken to barroom her from lasting and the NEC volition travel to a determination successful owed course.'

Asked if helium would similar her to beryllium a candidate, Sir Keir added: 'Ultimately, that volition beryllium a substance for the NEC but nary determination has been taken.'

He besides praised the MP arsenic a 'trailblazer'. 'She, of course, was a trailblazer for years, she faced galore challenges which she overcame successful her governmental career,' helium said.

A clamour is increasing for Sir Keir to neutralise the bitter spat implicit Ms Abbott, who has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington for astir 4 decades.

Ms Abbott, who was elected to Parliament successful 1987, has said she wants to combat to clasp her spot 'as agelong arsenic it is possible'.

She was suspended by the enactment past twelvemonth for suggesting Jewish, Irish and traveller radical experienced prejudice but not racism.

After apologising and undergoing grooming connected anti-Semitism, she had the enactment whip restored this week, meaning she could basal arsenic a Labour candidate. But reports suggested that she would beryllium barred from lasting again for her seat.

Ms Abbott - a adjacent state of Jeremy Corbyn - said determination was an 'appalling cull' of the Left of the party. Former person Mr Corbyn mislaid the Labour whip aft helium said a highly captious study connected the standard of anti- Semitism wrong the enactment had been 'dramatically overstated'.

He launched his run to basal arsenic an autarkic successful his Islington North spot connected Wednesday. 

Ms Abbott besides risked falling foul of Labour rules against supporting rival candidates by retweeting a connection hailing Mr Corbyn's determination to run. 

Meanwhile, his protagonist Lloyd Russell-Moyle was suspended by Labour and told helium could not basal again successful his erstwhile spot of Brighton Kemptown. The erstwhile MP blamed a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him.

Faiza Shaheen was not endorsed arsenic the Labour campaigner for Sir Iain Duncan Smith's marginal spot of Chingford and Woodford Green. She was blocked aft liking a bid of societal media posts that allegedly downplayed anti-

Semitism accusations and whitethorn tally arsenic an independent. She is consulting lawyers.

The Momentum run group, which was acceptable up to support

Mr Corbyn's Labour leadership, criticised Sir Keir's comments astir campaigner selection.

'This is simply a laughable defence and nary one's buying it,' a spokesperson said. 'Plain arsenic day, Keir Starmer is purging Left-wingers. He is pushing retired independent-minded women of colour.'

It came arsenic respective Sir Keir allies were parachuted into cardinal seats.

Josh Simons, manager of the Labour Together group, was selected successful Makerfield. Luke Akehurst, the caput of Labour First, was selected successful North Durham.